Employment Tribunals Act 1996

Membership etc. E+W+S

Valid from 01/12/2007

[F1 3A Meaning of “Employment Judge” E+W+S

A person who is a member of a panel of chairmen of employment tribunals which is appointed in accordance with regulations under section 1(1) may be referred to as an Employment Judge.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 3A inserted (1.12.2007) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 48(1), 148, Sch. 8 para. 36; S.I. 2007/2709, art. 4

4 Composition of a tribunal. E+W+S

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, proceedings before an industrial tribunal shall be heard by—

(a) the person who, in accordance with regulations made under section 1(1), is the chairman, and

(b) two other members, or (with the consent of the parties) one other member, selected as the other members (or member) in accordance with regulations so made.

(2) Subject to subsection (5), the proceedings specified in subsection (3) shall be heard by the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) alone.

(3) The proceedings referred to in subsection (2) are—

(a) proceedings on an application under section 161, 165 or 166 of the M1 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992,

(b) proceedings on a complaint under section 126 of the M2 Pension Schemes Act 1993,

(c) proceedings on a complaint under section 23 or 188 of the M3 Employment Rights Act 1996 or on an application under section 128, 131 or 132 of that Act,

(d) proceedings in respect of which an industrial tribunal has jurisdiction by virtue of section 3 of this Act,

(e) proceedings in which the parties have given their written consent to the proceedings being heard in accordance with subsection (2) (whether or not they have subsequently withdrawn it),

(f) proceedings in which the person bringing the proceedings has given written notice withdrawing the case, and

(g) proceedings in which the person (or, where more than one, each of the persons) against whom the proceedings are brought does not, or has ceased to, contest the case.

(4) The Secretary of State may by order amend the provisions of subsection (3).

(5) Proceedings specified in subsection (3) shall be heard in accordance with subsection (1) if a person who, in accordance with regulations made under section 1(1), may be the chairman of an industrial tribunal, having regard to—

(a) whether there is a likelihood of a dispute arising on the facts which makes it desirable for the proceedings to be heard in accordance with subsection (1),

(b) whether there is a likelihood of an issue of law arising which would make it desirable for the proceedings to be heard in accordance with subsection (2),

(c) any views of any of the parties as to whether or not the proceedings ought to be heard in accordance with either of those subsections, and

(d) whether there are other proceedings which might be heard concurrently but which are not proceedings specified in subsection (3),

decides at any stage of the proceedings that the proceedings are to be heard in accordance with subsection (1).

(6) Where (in accordance with the following provisions of this Part) the Secretary of State makes industrial tribunal procedure regulations, the regulations may provide that, in such circumstances as the regulations may specify, any act required or authorised by the regulations to be done by an industrial tribunal may be done by the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) alone.

(7) Where a Minister of the Crown so directs in relation to any proceedings on grounds of national security—

(a) the proceedings shall be heard and determined, and

(b) any act required or authorised by industrial tribunal procedure regulations to be done by an industrial tribunal in relation to the proceedings shall be done,

by the President of the Industrial Tribunals (England and Wales) appointed in accordance with regulations made under section 1(1), or by the President of the Industrial Tribunals (Scotland) so appointed, alone.

Marginal Citations

M1 1992 c. 52.

M2 1993 c. 48.

M3 1996 c. 18.

5 Remuneration, fees and allowances. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may pay to—

(a) the President of the Industrial Tribunals (England and Wales),

(b) the President of the Industrial Tribunals (Scotland), and

(c) any person who is a member on a full-time basis of a panel of chairmen of tribunals which is appointed in accordance with regulations made under section 1(1),

such remuneration as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine.

(2) The Secretary of State may pay to—

(a) members of industrial tribunals,

(b) any assessors appointed for the purposes of proceedings before industrial tribunals, and

(c) any persons required for the purposes of section 2A(l)(b) of the M4 Equal Pay Act 1970 to prepare reports,

such fees and allowances as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine.

(3) The Secretary of State may pay to any other persons such allowances as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine for the purposes of, or in connection with, their attendance at industrial tribunals.

Marginal Citations

M4 1970 c. 41.

Valid from 03/11/2008

[F2 5A Training etc. E+W+S

The Senior President of Tribunals is responsible, within the resources made available by the Lord Chancellor, for the maintenance of appropriate arrangements for the training, guidance and welfare of members of panels of members of employment tribunals (in their capacities as members of such panels, whether or not panels of [F3 Employment Judges ] ).

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 5A-5D inserted (3.11.2008) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 48(1), 148, Sch. 8 para. 40; S.I. 2008/2696, art. 5(c)(i) (with art. 3)

F3 Words in s. 5A substituted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 13(1); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

Valid from 03/11/2008

5B Members of employment tribunals: removal from office E+W+S

(1) Any power by which the President of the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales) may be removed from that office may be exercised only with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

(2) Any power by which the President of the Employment Tribunals (Scotland) may be removed from that office may be exercised only with the concurrence of the Lord President of the Court of Session.

(3) Any power by which a member of a panel may be removed from membership of the panel—

(a) may, if the person exercises functions wholly or mainly in Scotland, be exercised only with the concurrence of the Lord President of the Court of Session;

(b) may, if paragraph (a) does not apply, be exercised only with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

(4) In subsection (3) “panel” means—

(a) a panel of [F4 Employment Judges ] , or

(b) any other panel of members of employment tribunals,

which is appointed in accordance with regulations made under section 1(1).

(5) The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.

(6) The Lord President of the Court of Session may nominate a judge of the Court of Session who is a member of the First or Second Division of the Inner House of that Court to exercise his functions under this section.

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 5A-5D inserted (3.11.2008) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 48(1), 148, Sch. 8 para. 40; S.I. 2008/2696, art. 5(c)(i) (with art. 3)

F4 Words in s. 5B(4) substituted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 13(1); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

Valid from 03/11/2008

5C Oaths E+W+S

(1) Subsection (2) applies to a person (“the appointee”)—

(a) who is appointed—

(i) as President of the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales),

(ii) as President of the Employment Tribunals (Scotland), or

(iii) as a member of a panel (as defined in section 5B(4)), and

(b) who has not previously taken the required oaths after accepting another office.

(2) The appointee must take the required oaths before—

(a) the Senior President of Tribunals, or

(b) an eligible person who is nominated by the Senior President of Tribunals for the purpose of taking the oaths from the appointee.

(3) If the appointee is a President or panel member appointed before the coming into force of this section, the requirement in subsection (2) applies in relation to the appointee from the coming into force of this section.

(4) A person is eligible for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) if one or more of the following paragraphs applies to him—

(a) he holds high judicial office (as defined in section 60(2) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005);

(b) he holds judicial office (as defined in section 109(4) of that Act);

(c) he holds (in Scotland) the office of sheriff.

(5) In this section “the required oaths” means—

(a) the oath of allegiance, and

(b) the judicial oath,

as set out in the Promissory Oaths Act 1868.

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 5A-5D inserted (3.11.2008) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 48(1), 148, Sch. 8 para. 40; S.I. 2008/2696, art. 5(c)(i) (with art. 3)

Valid from 03/11/2008

5D Judicial assistance E+W+S

(1) Subsection (2) applies where regulations under section 1(1) make provision for a relevant tribunal judge, or a relevant judge, to be able by virtue of his office to act as a member of a panel of members of employment tribunals.

(2) The provision has effect only if—

(a) the persons in relation to whom the provision operates have to be persons nominated for the purposes of the provision by the Senior President of Tribunals,

(b) its operation in relation to a panel established for England and Wales in any particular case requires the consent of the President of Employment Tribunals (England and Wales),

(c) its operation in relation to a panel established for Scotland in any particular case requires the consent of the President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland),

(d) its operation as respects a particular relevant judge requires—

(i) the consent of the relevant judge, and

(ii) the appropriate consent (see subsection (3)) [F5 except where the relevant judge is the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales ] , and

(e) it operates as respects a relevant tribunal judge or a relevant judge only for the purpose of enabling him to act as a member of a panel of [F6 Employment Judges ] .

(3) In subsection (2)(d)(ii) “the appropriate consent” means—

(a) the consent of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales where the relevant judge is—

(i) [F7 the Master of the Rolls or ] an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal in England and Wales,

[F8 (ia) within subsection (4)(b)(ia),]

(ii) a puisne judge of the High Court in England and Wales,

(iii) a circuit judge,

(iv) a district judge in England and Wales,F9 ...

(v) a District Judge (Magistrates' Courts);[F10 , or

(vi) within subsection (4)(b)(x) to (xvi);]

(b) the consent of the Lord President of the Court of Session where the relevant judge is—

(i) a judge of the Court of Session, or

(ii) a sheriff;

(c) the consent of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland where the relevant judge is—

(i) a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland,

(ii) a puisne judge of the High Court in Northern Ireland,

(iii) a county court judge in Northern Ireland, or

(iv) a district judge in Northern Ireland.

(4) In this section—

(a) “relevant tribunal judge” means—

(i) a person who is a judge of the First-tier Tribunal by virtue of appointment under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007,

[F11 (ia) is the President of the Queen's Bench Division or Family Division, or the Chancellor, of the High Court in England and Wales,]

(ii) a transferred-in judge of the First-tier Tribunal,

(iii) a person who is a judge of the Upper Tribunal by virtue of appointment under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 3 to that Act,

(iv) a transferred-in judge of the Upper Tribunal,

(v) a deputy judge of the Upper Tribunal, F12 ...

(vi) a person who is the Chamber President of a chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, or of a chamber of the Upper Tribunal, and does not fall within any of sub-paragraphs (i) to (v);[F13 , or

(vii) is the Senior President of Tribunals;]

(b) “relevant judge” means a person who—

(i) is [F14 the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Master of the Rolls or ] an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal in England and Wales (including the vice-president, if any, of either division of that Court),

(ii) is a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland,

(iii) is a judge of the Court of Session,

(iv) is a puisne judge of the High Court in England and Wales or Northern Ireland,

(v) is a circuit judge,

(vi) is a sheriff in Scotland,

(vii) is a county court judge in Northern Ireland,

(viii) is a district judge in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, F15 ...

(ix) is a District Judge (Magistrates' Courts).

[F16 (x) is a deputy judge of the High Court in England and Wales,

(xi) is a Recorder,

(xii) is a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts),

(xiii) is a deputy district judge appointed under section 8 of the County Courts Act 1984 or section 102 of the Senior Courts Act 1981,

(xiv) holds an office listed in the first column of the table in section 89(3C) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (senior High Court Masters etc),

(xv) holds an office listed in column 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to that Act (High Court Masters etc), or

(xvi) is the Judge Advocate General or a person appointed under section 30(1)(a) or (b) of the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951 (assistants to the Judge Advocate General).]

(5) References in subsection (4)(b)(iii) to (ix) to office-holders do not include deputies or temporary office-holders.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 5A-5D inserted (3.11.2008) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 48(1), 148, Sch. 8 para. 40; S.I. 2008/2696, art. 5(c)(i) (with art. 3)

F5 Words in s. 5D(2)(d)(ii) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(2); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F6 Words in s. 5D(2)(e) substituted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 13(1); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F7 Words in s. 5D(3)(a)(i) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(3)(a); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F8 S. 5D(3)(a)(ia) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(3)(b); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F9 Word in s. 5D(3)(a) omitted (1.10.2013) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(3)(c); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F10 S. 5D(3)(a)(vi) and word inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(3)(c); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F11 S. 5D(4)(b)(ia) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(6); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F12 Word in s. 5D(4)(a)(v) omitted (1.10.2013) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(4); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F13 S. 5D(4)(a)(vii) and word inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(4); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F14 Words in s. 5D(4)(b)(i) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(5); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F15 Word in s. 5D(4)(b)(viii) omitted (1.10.2013) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(7); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F16 S. 5D(4)(b)(x)-(xvi) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 12(7); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)