and may, subject to the consent of the Treasury, prescribe a scale of fees for and in connection with the proceedings before the tribunal.
(2) The Minister shall give to the rates tribunal such assistance as the tribunal may require, and shall place at the disposal of the tribunal any information in his possession which he may think relevant to the matter before the tribunal, and the Minister shall be entitled to appear and be heard in any proceedings before the tribunal.
(3) The rates tribunal shall annually make a report to the Minister of their proceedings under this Act, which report shall be laid before Parliament.
Sittings.
23. Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act and to the rules made thereunder, the rates tribunal may hold sittings in any part of Great Britain in such place or places as may be convenient for the determination of the proceedings, before them. The central office of the tribunal shall be in London.
Additional members of tribunal.
24.—(1) There shall be constituted two panels, the one (hereinafter referred to as the general panel) consisting of thirty-six persons, twenty-two being nominated by the President of the Board of Trade after consultation with such bodies as he may consider to be most representative of trading interests, twelve being nominated by the Minister of Labour after consultation with such bodies as he may consider most representative of the interests of labour and of passengers upon the railways, and two being nominated by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries after consultation with such bodies as he may consider most representative of agricultural and horticultural interests, and the other (hereinafter referred to as the railway panel) consisting of eleven persons nominated by the Minister after consultation with the Railway Companies' Association, and one person nominated by the Minister to represent. railways and light railway companies not parties to the Railway Companies' Association.
(2) A member of a panel shall hold office for such term, not exceeding three years from the date of his appointment, as may be determined at the time of appointment, and then retire, but shall be eligible for reappointment.
