§ 6. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the notices giving the decision of the court of referees in Birmingham are not signed by the chairman, but that a rubber stamp is used and whether, seeing that this practice is liable to abuse, he will issue instructions that, in future, decisions of the court shall bear the signature of the chairman adjudicating?
Mr. STANLEYThe original record of the proceedings of a court of referees is, or should be, signed or initialled by the chairman and a copy is sent in due course to the claimant. I think, however, that my hon. Friend may be referring to a preliminary notice of the decision which is usually handed to the claimant immediately after the hearing; it is the common practice for these to be stamped with a facsimile signature and I do not think this is open to serious objection.