PENSIONS APPEAL TRIBUNALS BILL. (Hansard, 29 July 1943)

§ LORD HEMINGFORD

There is only one observation I wish to make with reference to Clause 6. The Lord Chancellor has power to make rules with regard to procedure, and I am sure it is not necessary for me to do more than just call his attention to the particular point I have in mind. The question of representation before these tribunals arises. I do not think anyone would raise any objection to the 874 appellants being represented by somebody, not necessarily a professional man. For instance, the representatives of the British Legion do a great deal of very good work in that way. I hope the Lord Chancellor may be able to say that the rules will be so drafted as to avoid what happened as a result of the Traffic Act. There may grow up a small body of people, composed partly of former lawyers' clerks, who will tend to exploit these appellants by offering to undertake cases for them and to undertake it on percentage terms or something of that kind. I am only anxious that, if possible, the rules with regard to representation should ensure, as far as may be, that the appellant should be represented by somebody who can be regarded as having a good status.

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT SIMON)

I am obliged to my noble friend for mentioning this point. As he said said, the duty will fall upon me under Section 6 to make rules of procedure for these tribunals. My recollection is, though I am speaking only from recollection, that the rules that were made in similar circumstances in connexion with the pensions appeal tribunals in the last war did make the sort of provision which my noble friend indicates—that is to say, that a body like the British Legion might in proper cases put forward for one of its members the case which he wished to make. As I say, I am speaking from recollection, but I will certainly look into this matter and at the same time will endeavour to guard against exploitation in directions which might be unsuitable.