7 April 2010
Mr Houston
Freedom of Information Unit
2nd Floor
By Email: [FOI #30285 email]
Royal Mail Sheffield
Pond Street
Sheffield
S98 6HR
[Royal Mail Group request email]
www.royalmail.com
Dear Mr Houston
Re: Freedom of Information Request
I am writing in response to your request for information which was submitted online on 7th
March 2010. We have considered your request under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You requested the following information for 2007, 2008, and 2009:
1.
“How many ET claims were upheld in the claimants’ favour? And how many in
Royal Mail’s favour?”
2.
“How many cases were settled before the Employment Tribunal hearing or during
it?”
3.
“How many claimants were actually reinstated or re-employed by Royal Mail?”
4.
“How many cases were there for claims of unfair dismissal on the charge of ‘wilful
delay of the post’”
5.
“Were there any cases of claims for unfair dismissal on the charge of ‘wilful delay of
the post’ that were settled before the ET/IT hearing by reducing the previous
dismissal to a 2 year serious penalty or other penalty and as a result the person
was reinstated or re-employed. If so how many cases?”
The table provided in Annex 1 to this letter includes all information requested in parts 1
and 2 of your request. This information is reported by Royal Mail on 6 monthly basis and
we have provided the information for each period within the scope of your request.
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010 – Page 1 of 4
Cont…
In relation to parts 3-5 of your request, it would significantly exceed the appropriate cost
limit set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act to provide the information
requested. The appropriate limit for Royal Mail Group is set at £450. This represents the
estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours in determining whether we hold the
information, and in locating, retrieving and extracting the information. The information
requested is not held centrally and it would require searching through each of an estimated
1600 files to identify and collate the numbers of cases falling into each part of your
request. Clearly, this would take far longer than 18 hours. Consequently, Royal Mail Group
is not obliged by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to respond to this particular request
(see section 12(1) of the Act).
Due to the number of cases involved, it is difficult for me to suggest any way in which your
request could be narrowed in order to retrieve all relevant information within the
appropriate limit. However, if you do wish to revise your request and which to focus on
particular information then please contact me at
[Royal Mail Group request email] and I will be happy to
try and assist you. Any reformulated request we receive from you will need to be treated as
a fresh FOI request and the cost-limit or other exemptions from disclosure may apply.
I am sorry that we cannot provide all of the information you have requested on this
occasion but hope that the enclosed figures are helpful. If for any reason you are not
satisfied with this response, you do have the right to request a review. If you wish to do so
please set out in writing your grounds of appeal and send to the Head of Information
Compliance, Royal Mail Group, Company Secretary's Office, 100 Victoria Embankment,
LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ. An internal panel will then review the request, and you will be
advised of the outcome.
If, having requested an internal review by Royal Mail, you are still not satisfied with our
response you also have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 2 of 4
Cont…
Yours Sincerely
Kate Fearn
Freedom of Information Officer
[Royal Mail Group request email]
Enc: Annex 1 Outcome of Employment Tribunal Cases October 2006 – September 2009
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 3 of 4
Cont…
Annex 1: Outcome of Employment Tribunal Cases October 2006 – September 2009
Period
Upheld in Royal Upheld in Claimants Cases Settled
Mail’s Favour
Favour
Oct 06 – March 07 180
4
38
April 07 – Sept 07
179
11
58
Oct 07 – March 08 259
16
83
April 08 – Sept 08
211
19
88
Oct 08 – March 09 247
16
103
April 09 – Sept 09
198
9
89
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 4 of 4
