§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy in respect of industrial tribunals to ensure that at least one member with special knowledge or experience of race relations in the employment field should sit on a tribunal in a case of alleged race discrimination; and on what grounds. [5362]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe selection of members of individual tribunals is a matter for the presidents of the industrial tribunals and their regional chairmen. However in accordance with the declaration of intent given by Lord Jacques in the House of Lords on 15 October 1976,Official Report, columns 725–26, during the passage of the Race Relations Bill the Presidents have made administrative arrangements so that wherever possible a member who has special knowledge or experience of race relations in the employment field will sit on tribunals hearing cases where racial discrimination is alleged by the applicant from the outset.