Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 January 2005. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Monday, 24 January 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Government will take steps to ensure that employment tribunal awards and private settlements of employment cases brokered by ACAS can be enforced without recourse to legal action by the aggrieved person.

Answer: Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will take steps to ensure that employment tribunal awards and private settlements of employment cases brokered by ACAS can be enforced without recourse to legal action by the aggrieved person. [210469] Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) White Paper "Transforming Public Services: Complaints Redress and Tribunals", published in July 2004, recognised the fact that enforcement of tribunal awards can sometimes pose difficulties. It also pointed out that private settlements of cases, even if brokered by ACAS, have no status beyond that of an ordinary contract. It went on to say: "This is unsatisfactory. We will reform these processes so that an award of compensation, whether ordered by the tribunal or agreed between the parties, can be enforced with the minimum of bureaucracy as if it were an order of the civil courts." Officials are working closely with their colleagues at DCA toward delivery of this commitment.

Secondary information