§ Mr. EDMUNDSasked the Minister of Labour the procedure for calling upon deputy chairman of courts of referees to sit; and the reason why one of the five deputy chairmen of the Bristol Court of Referees sat 130 times out of a total of 299 sittings of the court during the period 19th April, 1928, to 8th June, 1929, while during the same period he sat as chairman of the Kingswood and Eastville court 116 times out of a total number of 126 sittings of that court?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe attendance of a deputy chairman is arranged for by the chairman on occasions when he is unavoidably absent. Normally, a chairman is expected to take most of the sittings himself. In the case of the Bristol court, however, there are special circumstances. The Department are desirous of retaining the services of the chairman of that court for cases of special difficulty, and it has been necessary to allow a considerable number of the Bristol sittings to be taken by one of the deputy chairmen who is also chairman of a neighbouring court.
§ Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour if she will give instructions that all Circulars and Regulations sent to the chairman of the court of referees shall be issued to the other members of the court?
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§ Miss BONDFIELDThe Regulations and other documents supplied to chairmen are accessible to other members of the courts. I am not sure that the additional expense involved in my hon. Friend's suggestion would be justified, but I am considering it in conjunction with other matters relating to courts of referees.