Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Employment Tribunal Panels

Tuesday 14 May 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Senior President of Tribunals intends to publish responses to the consultation on proposed reforms to employment tribunal panels shortly.
  • The Lord Chancellor and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice will meet the Senior President to discuss proposals regarding employment tribunal fees.
  • Resources have been increased and ongoing work is addressing the employment tribunal backlog caused by the pandemic.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Brown SNP
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP asks about an assessment of proposed reforms to employment tribunal panels following a previous drop in cases due to fees.

Question

What recent assessment has the Minister made of the effectiveness of proposed reforms to employment tribunal panels, given that the introduction of tribunal fees led to a 54% drop in case numbers and was deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

The Senior President of Tribunals intends to publish responses to the consultation on proposed reforms shortly. The Lord Chancellor and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice will meet the Senior President tomorrow as part of their duty to consult before making these arrangements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific effectiveness assessment was not provided, focusing instead on procedural steps.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Alan Brown SNP
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP questions the government's intention to reintroduce employment tribunal fees despite concerns raised by numerous organisations.

Question

Considering that tribunal fees previously led to a significant drop in cases and were deemed unlawful, why is the Government considering reintroducing these fees when many organisations including the TUC, Citizens Advice, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Liberty are calling for reconsideration?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

The courts Minister has written to the Senior President of Tribunals conveying concerns raised during parliamentary scrutiny of the statutory instrument, and a meeting with the Senior President is scheduled to discuss these proposals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct explanation for reintroducing fees was not provided, focusing on procedural steps taken.

How: Under Review

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Q3 Alex Cunningham Lab
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

The MP raises concerns about the employment tribunal backlog standing at over 460,000 cases by end of 2023, affecting workers who have been bullied or unfairly dismissed.

Question

Given that hundreds of thousands of people across various courts are affected by a significant employment tribunal backlog, is there any new plan to address this issue?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

The impact of the pandemic on the employment tribunal system and criminal justice system is acknowledged. Resources have been increased, and work is ongoing to address backlogs, but it will take time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: A specific plan or timeline was not provided, focusing instead on acknowledging past impacts.

How: It'S Complex

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Q4 Chris Stephens SNP
Justice & Courts Economy Employment
Context

The MP criticises the proposal for employment tribunal fees at a time of intense pressure on family budgets, raising concerns about fairness in access to justice.

Question

Considering the current cost of living crisis and its impact on families' budgets, is it fair to expect workers to pay to take their employer to an employment tribunal? Should these proposed changes be scrapped for greater system fairness?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

A regional virtual court has been introduced to safeguard access to justice, and efforts will continue to make this available as much as possible. The backlog is being addressed at pace.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Whether changes should be scrapped was not directly addressed; focus on existing measures.

How: It'S Complex

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