asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, since the wage pause and the variations made in the awards of some joint industrial committees, there has been reduced confidence in such tribunals; and if he will give an assurance that all such tribunals will now be free to decide on the merits of any case made out by the parties concerned.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to arbitration tribunals. Arbitration tribunals are completely independent. As the Government have made clear in the White Paper on Incomes Policy, they attach great importance to the maintenance of arbitration and the continued independence of arbitrators in making their awards.