Written question asked by Oliver Heald (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 July 2007. It was answered by Pat McFadden (Labour) on Monday, 29 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Industrial Disputes: Arbitration

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what research his Department has undertaken on mediation in employment disputes in the last 12 years.

Answer: This Department commissions periodic surveys of claimants and employer respondents which include information related to Acas conciliation and the role of parties' representatives. The last survey was carried out in 2003, and the findings published in the Employee Relations Survey Report No. 33 ““Findings from the Survey of Employment Tribunal Applications 2003””. The next survey is expected to take place in 2008 and will include questions on the parties' attitudes to mediation.

Secondary information