HC Deb 01 July 1992 vol 210 cc629-30W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance she gives to employees about the entitlement of lay members of industrial tribunals to paid time off work for tribunal duties.

Mr McLoughlin

People who are invited to become industrial tribunal lay members are informed that they are entitled under legislation to reasonable time off work for tribunal duties. There is no entitlement under the law to paid time off for such duties.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to increase the number of women serving as lay members on industrial tribunals.

Mr. McLoughlin

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment, is anxious to increase the number of women serving on industrial tribunals as on other bodies, and we have taken steps to encourage suitable women to come forward for appointment from October 1992. Last year my predecessor, in asking bodies to nominate suitable candidates, stressed the desirability of increasing the number of women appointed. He also asked other bodies, including the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women's National Commission to take what steps they could to encourage suitable women to apply. Officials in the Department organised a seminar for these bodies at which the need to encourage suitable women was stressed, and the information provided to interested inquirers and the press publicity about the appointment arrangements also emphasised this point.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance she gives to lay members of industrial tribunals about the number of days they should expect to sit on tribunal duties.

Mr. McLoughlin

Individuals who are offered appoint-ment to the panels of industrial tribunal lay members are told they may be asked to sit at least 15 days a year.