A cabinet minister has been rebuked for not giving straight answers on when her department will release a report into controversial tribunal fees.
Secretary of State for Justice Liz Truss has been told to stop “prevaricating” by a Commons committee.
The embarrassing slap-down from the procedure committee’s chairman Charles Walker comes after Ms Truss was accused by Labour’s Dawn Butler of “hiding” the report.
The London MP believed that it shows employment tribunal fees have hit women and ethnic minorities the hardest.
Mr Walker said: “I have given careful consideration to this complaint. It seems to me that the pattern of answers given, taken together, shows a tendency to prevarication in the face of direct questions about the progress of work which has been publicly announced.”
Ms Butler, the shadow diversity minister, told the Standard that hundreds of Londoners are struggling to access justice after the fees for discrimination, whistle-blowing and unfair dismissal cases rose to £1,200 three years ago.
The Government said it would review the impact of employment tribunal charges in June last year but the report is still to be released.
Over the past 12 months Ms Butler has asked Ms Truss and her predecessor Michael Gove for a publication date for the report, the length of time staff had spent on it and whether a draft had been prepared.
She complained to the committee, describing the Ministry of Justice as showing a “general unwillingness” to give clear answers.
Courts and justice minister Sir Oliver Heald had responded on Ms Truss’s behalf, to say the report will be published in “due course” — the same answer issued by the department a year ago.
Mr Walker has given Ms Truss until next month to explain how she will provide further details.
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