To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements she will make for the appointment of new lay members to the industrial tribunals. [34109]

The Government wish to review the recruitment and appointments procedures for industrial tribunal lay members to encourage the appointment of lay members from a wide variety of backgrounds, and to ensure that they are in line with the guidance of the Commissioner of Public Appointments. It is important that all users of tribunals have confidence in the lay members appointed to the tribunals and we therefore intend to consult the social partners and other interested parties on the review. We propose to make the next appointments of new lay members to the industrial tribunals in October 1999.