§ Mr. Molyneauxasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many statutory tribunals and inquiries exist, or are empowered to operate, in Northern Ireland; how many of these are operational, and if he will list them; and which Northern Ireland or United Kingdom Department is responsible for these tribunals or inquiries.
§ Mr. AlisonMy right hon. Friend is responsible for the following 22 statutory tribunals, convened as and when required by the Northern Ireland Office or the Northern Ireland Departments and empowered to operate in Northern Ireland:
Department of Health and Social Services
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- Mental Health Review Tribunal
- Tribunal under schedule 11 to the Health and Personal Social Services (NI) Order 1972
- Local Tribunals under Social Security Acts
- Supplementary Benefit Appeal Tribunals
- Medical Appeals Tribunals
- Medical Boards
Department of Manpower Services
- Industrial Tribunals
- Industrial Courts
- Compensation Appeals Tribunals
- Fair Employment Appeals Board
- Courts of Inquiry
- Inquiries made under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978
Department of Agriculture
- Tribunal under the Pig Recording Scheme (NI) 1976
- Panel set up under the Poultry Improvement Act (Northern Ireland) 1968
Department of the Environment
- Planning Appeals Commission
- Water Appeals Commission
- Rent Assessment Committees
- Department of Finance
- Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Office
- Tribunal under section 13 of the Police Act (NI) 1970 which empowers the Secretary of State or the Police Authority to refer a complaint against a member of the RUC to the Tribunal.
704 - Tribunal appointed by the Police Complaints Board under article 7 of the Police (NI) Order 1977 to hear disciplinary charges against members of the RUC.
- Tribunal appointed by the Secretary of State under regulation 69 of the RUC Pension Regulations 1973 to hear appeals against a pension award made by the Police Authority.
- Tribunal appointed by the Secretary of State under RUC (Discipline and Disciplinary Appeals Regulation) Regulations 1977 to hear evidence in an appeal against the decision of the Chief Constable with regard to an offence against discipline.
My right hon. Friend is responsible for only two inquiries at present, both convened by the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce under the Statistics of Industry Act 1949. These are:
- Annual Census of Production
- Inquiry Quarterly Production Inquiry
Tribunals or inquiries convened by other United Kingdom Departments in Northern Ireland are not the responsibility of my right hon. Friend.