§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Attorney-General if he will consider the creation of a new, independent agency to administer tribunals, to be responsible for appointing tribunal members and employing and training the clerks.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy noble Friend considers that no useful purpose would be served by such an agency.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Attorney-General if he will ensure that all tribunals include a lawyer as a member, or have access to an independent legal assessor.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThese requirements are already satisfied in respect of most tribunals. The need to extend them to the Supplementary Benefit Appeal Tribunals is under consideration in the light of Professor Bell's Report.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Attorney-General if he will bring forward legislation to establish that appellants before tribunals have right of appeal to a higher tribunal whose decisions could be published as precedents, giving binding directions to local tribunals on law and procedure and guiding them in the exercise of discretion.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralThe decisions of many tribunals are already subject to appeal on points of law and existing legislation enables these arrangements to be extended where necessary. There is also a right of appeal on questions of fact in a number of cases.