At the risk of sounding like a liar - sorry, politician - charging fees for employment tribunals really would have a ‘chilling effect’ on access to justice.

As a former Citizens Advice Bureau adviser who had begun to specialise in employment cases, I can report that the attrition rate is already phenomenally high. Many potential claimants - most of whom have very good cases - are afraid of the process to begin with and do not believe that they will obtain justice.

Those who have the courage or sheer determination to press their case are frequently met with veiled - sufficiently articulate to press their case without help.

The employer, of course, usually employs a legal adviser, if they even bother to turn up, which they frequently do not. Furthermore, there is no effective mechanism, other than further court action - to enforce a tribunal judgment should the complainant be fortunate enough to win their case.

The current government’s attempted resurrection of Thatcher’s assault on employment rights is despicable to begin with. To charge such people fees would be rank injustice; not that this would concern the coalition.

John Lockett, Burnley, Lancashire