To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many actions under employment law have been brought against his Department and its predecessor in each of the last three years; how many such actions were brought under each category of action; and how many such actions were contested by his Department at an employment tribunal. (277417)

The Department has defended less than five claims in employment tribunal hearings in each of the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09. The Department was established on 28 June 2007. Further detail is suppressed on grounds of confidentiality.

Information on the number of claims withdrawn during the process of being defended prior to a full hearing is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information for the 2006-07 financial year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.