HC Deb 18 July 1996 vol 281 cc610-1W
Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to ensure that at least one member of an industrial tribunal dealing with cases raised under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is a person with special knowledge or experience of disability issues in the employment field; and if he will make a statement. [37894]

Mr. John M. Taylor

The constitution of individual tribunals is a matter for the president of the industrial tribunals and their regional chairmen. However, my Department and the industrial tribunals are currently considering the implications of the employment provisions contained in the Disability Discrimination Act. As part of this, special efforts were made in October last year to recruit new lay members who are disabled or have a special interest in disability matters. Eight per cent. of those appointed were people with disabilities. We also added the Employers Forum on Disability and the National League of the Blind and Disabled to the list of sponsor bodies which provide nominations to the Secretary of State.