§ Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many local appeal tribunals which hear appeals on national insurance and industrial injury questions meet in premises occupied by his Department; how many meet elsewhere; and whether he will take steps to see that they meet elsewhere whenever possible, in view of the comments of the Council on Tribunals on the importance of emphasising the independence of the tribunals.
Mr. Vane131 local tribunals meet in premises wholly or partly occupied by my Department and 93 elsewhere. As regards the second part of the Question, the point that the independence of the tribunals is emphasised when arrangements can be made for them to meet in premises not occupied by the Department was, of course, made earlier by the Franks Committee and my right hon. Friend agrees with it, though the hon. Member will appreciate that he must also have regard to considerations of cost to the National Insurance Funds and the general convenience of the public.
§ Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many National Assistance Appeal Tribunals meet in premises occupied by 55W the National Assistance Board; how many meet elsewhere; and whether he will take steps to see that they meet elsewhere whenever possible, in view of the comments of the Council on Tribunals on the importance of emphasising the independence of the tribunals.
Mr. VaneI am informed that of the 152 National Assistance Appeal Tribunals, 119 hold all their sittings in premises wholly or partly occupied by the Board, 15 sit sometimes in such premises, and 18 hold all their sittings elsewhere. As is recognised by the Council on Tribunals, there are practical difficulties in arranging for all Tribunals to sit in separate premises, but the Board inform me that in making arrangements in future they will keep the recommendation of the Council in mind.
§ Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking, arising from the comments made by the Council on Tribunals in paragraph 98 of their report, on seating arrangements at tribunal hearings; and whether he will instruct insurance officers not to sit in positions which might give an impression to the claimant that they occupy a privileged position.
Mr. VaneSeating arrangements at tribunal hearings are a matter for the chairman of the tribunal itself and must to a large extent depend on the accommodation available. I am sure that both chairmen and insurance officers are fully conscious of the need to avoid giving any impression that the latter are in any way in a privileged position before the tribunal; none the less their attention is being drawn to paragraph 98 of the Council on Tribunals' first Annual Report.
§ Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking to improve the accommodation for National Assistance Appeal Tribunals, in the light of the criticism made in paragraph 100 of the report of the Council on Tribunals; and whether proper waiting rooms will be provided in all cases to avoid the need for people to wait in corridors.
56W
Mr. VaneI am informed by the National Assistance Board that, as indicated by the Council on Tribunals in their report, they are reviewing the accommodation available for Appeal Tribunals, including that for waiting. Alternative arrangements have already been made in several instances.