Employment Tribunals Service

Grant Shapps
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many actions under employment law have been brought against his Department 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.

Gillian Merron
Actions against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the last three years, under each category are as follows:

2006

10 claims were brought against the FCO. One under the fixed term regulations; one joint sex/race discrimination claim; one joint race/victimisation/breach of contract action; three for race discrimination; two for unfair dismissal and two for unlawful deductions from wages.

Three claims were settled prior to the hearing; the tribunal found in FCO's favour on six; and one case was dismissed.

2007

Seven claims were brought against the FCO. One for discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation; three for disability discrimination; one joint sex/race action; one unlawful deductions from wages and one for unfair dismissal.

Two claims were settled prior to the hearing and the tribunal found in FCO's favour on the other five.

2008

Nine claims brought against the FCO. Seven for unfair dismissal and two for unfair dismissal/race discrimination. All nine claims were withdrawn by claimants prior to the hearing.