Ministry of Justice
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Transforming tribunals
Radical reforms to modernise the tribunals system in England and Wales were set out in a consultation by the Ministry of Justice today.
The reform of the system began in April 2006 with the creation of the Tribunals Service, which brought together the administration of central government tribunals in a single system.
Transforming Tribunals: Implementing Part 1 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 brings the tribunal reform story up to date, explains how the tribunals system is to be organised and supported in future, and seeks views on the way ahead.
Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said:
"Tribunals deal with more than 500,000 cases a year often involving the most vulnerable people in society. It is vital they are effective.
"I want to create a truly modern, unified and independent tribunal system - one which enables the sharing and development of the considerable expertise that exists in each Tribunal, for the benefit of tribunal users."
The proposals include:
* Plans for the organisation of first-tier and upper tribunals created by the 2007 Act, and into which most existing tribunals will be transferred;
* How the chambers within the new tribunals should be structured;
* The assignment of judges within and across the chambers; and
* The role of non-legal members in the new structure.
Transforming Tribunals considers some of the other areas where further reforms are planned, such as in tax, and land, property and housing appeals. It also explains the new regional management structure and plans for new administrative support centres and a network of multi-jurisdictional Hearing Centres.
Ms Prentice continued:
"These reforms will deliver for the first time a national organisation with a strong local presence, further improving the service to tribunal users. "
Notes to Editors
1. Transforming Tribunals: Implementing Part 1 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 is available on the Ministry of Justice website: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp3007.htm
2. The Tribunals Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, formed in April 2006 to provide independent administrative support to central government tribunals and organisations. Some 27 are now supported by the Tribunals Service, including employment tribunals, Asylum and Immigration Tribunals, and Social Security and Child Support Appeals.
The purpose of the Tribunals Service is to:
* provide a responsive and efficient tribunals administration;
* contribute to the improvement of the quality of decision-making across Government;
* reform the tribunals justice system for the benefit of its customers and the wider public; and
* promote and protect the independence of the judiciary.
3. For more details see http://www.tribunals.gov.uk
5. The consultation period will run for 12 weeks from the 28 November publication date, so that government and parliament can consider issues in the first half of 2008.
ENDS
