asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he proposes to introduce legislation aimed at amending procedures at industrial tribunals so as to reduce complaints of no merit; and if he will make a statement.

Under present procedures, over 3,000 applicants a year are told by the secretaries that their applications are out of scope. The vast majority of them do not pursue their cases. I have at present no plans to amend tribunal procedures further, but I shall continue to keep them under review.