HC Deb 11 December 1975 vol 902 cc353-5W
Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary or State for Employment how many women are members of industrial tribunals.

Mr. Booth

381.

Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many more cases are expected to come before industrial tribunals in 1976 as a result of: (a) the passage of the Sex Discrimination Act and (b) the implementation of the Equal Pay Act.

Mr. Booth

It is very difficult to forecast the likely case load for industrial tribunals under these two Acts. However, it has been necessary for planning purposes to make some assumption of the likely case load, and the number of complaints to tribunals forecast for 1976 is 6,000 for the two Acts, more than half of them complaints relating to the Equal Pay Act. It has also been assumed for planning purposes that somewhat fewer than half of these complaints will either be settled by conciliation or otherwise withdrawn, and so will not need to be dealt with by a tribunal hearing.

Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advertise in appropriate publications for applicants for membership of industrial tribunals.

Mr. Booth

No. The present method of obtaining members of industrial tribunals is working satisfactorily and I see no reason to change it.

Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will take steps to increase the number of women who are members of industrial tribunals.

Mr. Booth

The number of women members of tribunals has increased considerably in the past 18 months and 24 per cent. of all members are now women, and we have encouraged nominating organisations to have full regard to the claims of suitably qualified women on presenting their nominations. With this proportion of women on tribunals there will generally be a woman member on any tribunal which hears a case under the Sex Discrimination and the Equal Pay Acts. We will shortly be approaching the TUC, the CBI and some other employer organisations for additional nominations to cope with the expected increase in cases arising in the course of next year from new legislation. We shall encourage them to bear in mind the need for tribunal members to be representative of a wide range of different kinds of employers and workers, including women and members of ethnic minorities.

Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will ask bodies with industrial experience other than the CBI and the TUC to recommend names for consideration for appointment to membership of industrial tribunals.

Mr. Booth

In addition to the TUC and CBI, employers' organisations covering retail trades, local authorities and the health services are already invited to suggest nominees for membership of the industrial tribunals who have had experience as employers in particular areas of industry. I have no plans to invite other bodies to suggest nominees for membership.