HC Deb 10 March 1967 vol 742 cc364-5W
Mr. John Ellis

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in setting up regional offices of the Industrial Tribunal and appointing full-time chairmen.

Mr. Gunter

Regional Offices of the Industrial Tribunals were set up on 1st March, 1967, in Manchester and Leeds. An office will be set up in Newcastle in the near future, and one in Birmingham will open as soon as is practicable.

The Industrial Tribunals (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1967 laid before Parliament today which are to come into operation on 13th March contain the necessary constitutional provisions, covering all jurisdictions of the Industrial Tribunals, for the powers of the President of the Tribunals to be delegated to chairmen nominated by him from the panel appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

The statutory Rules governing the procedure of the Tribunals under each of their jurisdictions will shortly be brought into line with the new constitutional provisions where this has not already been done. The Rules will provide for appeals and applications to continue to be sent to the Central Office of the Tribunals, where they will be registered; the Central Office will then forward them, where appropriate, to the Regional Office of the Industrial Tribunals for action.

Similar amendment regulations will apply to Scotland, though it is not at present contemplated that the work of the Tribunals in Scotland should be decentralised.

The Lord Chancellor has made full-time appointments to the panel of chairmen and the President of the Industrial Tribunals is nominating the full-time chairmen to exercise his powers under his direction as follows: The Rt. Hon. Sir John Clayden. B. de H. Pereira, Esq., T.D. From 1st March. 1967, to assist the President generally at the Central Office in London. H. C. Easton, Esq., T.D. From 1st March, 1967, Regional Office of the Industrial Tribunals, Manchester, covering North West England and North Wales. G. M. Smailes, Esq. From 1st March, 1967, Regional Office of the Industrial Tribunals. Leeds, covering the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire. H. Bewick, Esq., From 1st May, 1967, Regional Office of the Industrial Tribunals, Newcastle, covering the North of England including the North Riding of Yorkshire.