§ Mr. Paul Roseasked the Attorney-General by what criteria he appoints chairmen of industrial tribunals; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralUnder regulation 5 of the Industrial Tribunals (England and Wales) Regulations, 1965, to qualify for appointment as a chairman of an industrial tribunal a person must be a barrister or solicitor of not less than seven years' standing, like all his recent predecessors. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor also takes into account the extent to which possible candidates for appointments have also had previous judicial experience.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General how many chairmen of industrial tribunals in London have less than five years' experience at the English Bar or as solicitors in England.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThree.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General how many chairmen of industrial tribunals in London have more than 10 and less than two years' experience, respectively, as practitioners at the English Bar or as solicitors in England.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNine of the chairmen have more than 10 and two have less than two years' experience of practice in England.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to make persons who have not been resident in England for more than five years immediately preceding their appointment ineligible for chairmanship of industrial tribunals.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to ensure that no person whose legal experience has been outside the United Kingdom shall be appointed to the chairmanship of an industrial tribunal without his first having taken a prescribed course in the law and practice of industrial relations in the United Kingdom or that part of the United Kingdom where he is to sit.
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§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General how many chairmen of industrial tribunals have practised at the Bar or as solicitors in former colonial and Commonwealth territories and for how long; and what period has elapsed before their appointment as chairmen following their return from such territories.
§ The Attorney-GeneralFour chairmen practised in former colonial or Commonwealth countries, two for four years, one for eight years and one for 14 years. In each case the person concerned was resident in England for about one year before his appointment.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General whether he will issue a circular to chairmen of industrial tribunals sitting in London advising them of their functions and the desirability of preserving an informal and relaxed atmosphere in respect of those who appear before them.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. At periodical conferences and during visits to the regions the president of the tribunals already gives to the chairmen guidance on their functions and the law; and on the appointment of each chairman he stresses the need for informality.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Attorney-General whether, in the appointment of chairmen of industrial tribunals, he will seek to make it a condition by legislation or otherwise that appointees have a personal knowledge of industrial problems and are acceptable both to the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. The two members who sit with the chairman are experienced in industrial problems, but it would not be practicable so to limit the field from which the legal chairmen are chosen.