§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many current chairmen of supplementary benefit appeal tribunals were originally trades council-nominated members and how many were originally nominated by the Secretary of State; and if he will provide this information on a regional basis.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many current chairmen of supplementary benefit tribunals are women and how many are men.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the criteria used for choosing chairmen of supplementary benefit appeal tribunals.
§ Mr. OrmeChairmen are selected by the Secretary of State for Social Services from a panel of persons appointed by the Lord Chancellor, in Scotland by the Lord President of the Court of Session. Chairmen normally will have served for a number of years as members of supplementary benefit appeal tribunals and all members, whether male or female, and whether originally nominated by trades councils or by the Secretary of State, are equally eligible. Following the report on supplementary benefit appeal tribunals by Professor Kathleen Bell, the Government have accepted that more legally qualified chairmen should be appointed.