MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
News Release (136/08) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 3
November 2008
The Government has
launched two new tribunals today, consisting of a First-tier and
an Upper Tribunal. This is part of a radical overhaul of the
tribunals' structure designed to strengthen the system and
achieve improved and consistent standards for tribunal users.
Most tribunal jurisdictions, currently administered by the
Tribunals Service, will transfer into the First-tier and Upper
Tribunal in phases from 3 November, implementing a key part of the
Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. The two tribunals
consist of chambers, grouping together jurisdictions dealing with
similar work or requiring similar skills. Existing tribunal judges
and non-legal members will transfer into the new system and
continue their vital work in the same way as at present,
preserving jurisdictional expertise.
Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said:
"Tribunals deal with more than 500,000 cases a year ranging
from those involving the most vulnerable in society to
multi-national businesses and therefore it is vital that the
system is truly effective and serves their needs.
"Bringing together and strengthening the expertise from a
wide range of specialist tribunals will ensure that users remain
at the heart of the service."
The important change for users comes with the establishment of
the Upper Tribunal and the First-tier's onward appeal rights
to it. For some jurisdictions this will create new statutory
appeal rights and for others bring the appeal rights within the
tribunals rather than the courts.
The unified tribunals' structure is headed by Senior
President Lord Justice Carnwath providing, for the first time,
statutory leadership for tribunals.
Senior President Lord Justice Carnwath said:
"These reforms are the most radical changes to the
tribunals' system in 50 years and will ensure tribunal users
continue to experience a service that is speedy, inexpensive and accessible.
"The creation of the Upper Tribunal, will group all tribunal
appeals in one cohesive structure. Over time the decisions of the
Upper Tribunal will build comprehensive caselaw for each area
covered by the tribunals, as well as administrative law itself. By
providing clear decisions on points of law and greater clarity for
First-tier tribunals the new structure will benefit all tribunal users.
"I look forward to working closely with the Government and
stakeholders to ensure that we continue developing a system that
is responsive to the needs of users."
Notes to Editors
1. The Chambers in the First-tier are:
* Social
Entitlement;
* General Regulatory;
* War Pensions and
Armed Forces Compensation;
* Health, Education and Social
Care;
* Taxation; and
* Land, Property and Housing
2. The three Upper Tribunal Chambers are:
* Administrative
Appeals;
* Lands; and
* Finance and Tax.
3. The Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal will be
separate from the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, although there
will be close links between them. The results of the recent
Government consultation on bringing the Asylum and Immigration
Tribunal into the unified tribunals structure will be published shortly.
4. The Tribunals Service, an executive agency within the Ministry
of Justice will continue to provide an integrated administration
of the new tribunal system.
5. For more details please contact the Ministry of Justice Press
Office on 020 3334 3536.
http://www.justice.gov.uk