Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992

Functions of ACASE+W+S

209 General duty to promote improvement of industrial relations.E+W+S

It is the general duty of ACAS to promote the improvement of industrial relations F1. . . F2. . .

210 Conciliation.E+W+S

(1)Where a trade dispute exists or is apprehended ACAS may, at the request of one or more parties to the dispute or otherwise, offer the parties to the dispute its assistance with a view to bringing about a settlement.

(2)The assistance may be by way of conciliation or by other means, and may include the appointment of a person other than an officer or servant of ACAS to offer assistance to the parties to the dispute with a view to bringing about a settlement.

(3)In exercising its functions under this section ACAS shall have regard to the desirability of encouraging the parties to a dispute to use any appropriate agreed procedures for negotiation or the settlement of disputes.

[F3210AInformation required by ACAS for purposes of settling recognition disputesE+W+S

(1)This section applies where ACAS is exercising its functions under section 210 with a view to bringing about a settlement of a recognition dispute.

(2)The parties to the recognition dispute may jointly request ACAS or a person nominated by ACAS to do either or both of the following—

(a)hold a ballot of the workers involved in the dispute;

(b)ascertain the union membership of the workers involved in the dispute.

(3)In the following provisions of this section references to ACAS include references to a person nominated by ACAS; and anything done by such a person under this section shall be regarded as done in the exercise of the functions of ACAS mentioned in subsection (1).

(4)At any time after ACAS has received a request under subsection (2), it may require any party to the recognition dispute—

(a)to supply ACAS with specified information concerning the workers involved in the dispute, and

(b)to do so within such period as it may specify.

(5)ACAS may impose a requirement under subsection (4) only if it considers that it is necessary to do so—

(a)for the exercise of the functions mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b)in order to enable or assist it to comply with the request.

(6)The recipient of a requirement under this section must, within the specified period, supply ACAS with such of the specified information as is in the recipient’s possession.

(7)A request under subsection (2) may be withdrawn by any party to the recognition dispute at any time and, if it is withdrawn, ACAS shall take no further steps to hold the ballot or to ascertain the union membership of the workers involved in the dispute.

(8)If a party to a recognition dispute fails to comply with subsection (6), ACAS shall take no further steps to hold the ballot or to ascertain the union membership of the workers involved in the dispute.

(9)Nothing in this section requires ACAS to comply with a request under subsection (2).

(10)In this section—

• “party”, in relation to a recognition dispute, means each of the employers, employers' associations and trade unions involved in the dispute;

• “a recognition dispute” means a trade dispute between employers and workers which is connected wholly or partly with the recognition by employers or employers' associations of the right of a trade union to represent workers in negotiations, consultations or other procedures relating to any of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (f) of section 218(1);

• “specified” means specified in a requirement under this section; and

• “workers” has the meaning given in section 218(5).]

211 Conciliation officers.E+W+S

(1)ACAS shall designate some of its officers to perform the functions of conciliation officers under any enactment (whenever passed) relating to matters which are or could be the subject of proceedings before an [F4employment tribunal].

(2)References in any such enactment to a conciliation officer are to an officer designated under this section.

212 Arbitration.E+W+S

(1)Where a trade dispute exists or is apprehended ACAS may, at the request of one or more of the parties to the dispute and with the consent of all the parties to the dispute, refer all or any of the matters to which the dispute relates for settlement to the arbitration of—

(a)one or more persons appointed by ACAS for that purpose (not being officers or employees of ACAS), or

(b)the Central Arbitration Committee.

(2)In exercising its functions under this section ACAS shall consider the likelihood of the dispute being settled by conciliation.

(3)Where there exist appropriate agreed procedures for negotiation or the settlement of disputes, ACAS shall not refer a matter for settlement to arbitration under this section unless—

(a)those procedures have been used and have failed to result in a settlement, or

(b)there is, in ACAS’s opinion, a special reason which justifies arbitration under this section as an alternative to those procedures.

(4)Where a matter is referred to arbitration under subsection (1)(a)—

(a)if more than one arbitrator or arbiter is appointed, ACAS shall appoint one of them to act as chairman; and

(b)the award may be published if ACAS so decides and all the parties consent.

(5)[F5Nothing in any of sections 1 to 15 of and schedule 1 to the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 or] [F6Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996] (general provisions as to arbitration) [F7does not apply] [F7applies] to an arbitration under this section.

[F8212A Arbitration scheme for unfair dismissal cases etc.E+W+S

(1)ACAS may prepare a scheme providing for arbitration in the case of disputes involving proceedings, or claims which could be the subject of proceedings, before an employment tribunal [F9under, or] arising out of a contravention or alleged contravention of—

[F10(zza)section 63F(4), (5) or (6) or 63I(1)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (study and training);]

[F11(za)section 80G(1) or 80H(1)(b) of [F12 that Act ] (flexible working),]

(a)Part X of [F13that Act] (unfair dismissal), or

(b)any enactment specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.

(2)When ACAS has prepared such a scheme it shall submit a draft of the scheme to the Secretary of State who, if he approves it, shall make an order—

(a)setting out the scheme, and

(b)making provision for it to come into effect.

(3)ACAS may from time to time prepare a revised version of such a scheme and, when it has done so, shall submit a draft of the revised scheme to the Secretary of State who, if he approves it, shall make an order—

(a)setting out the revised scheme, and

(b)making provision for it to come into effect.

(4)ACAS may take any steps appropriate for promoting awareness of a scheme prepared under this section.

(5)Where the parties to any dispute within subsection (1) agree in writing to submit the dispute to arbitration in accordance with a scheme having effect by virtue of an order under this section, ACAS shall refer the dispute to the arbitration of a person appointed by ACAS for the purpose (not being an officer or employee of ACAS).

(6)Nothing in the M1Arbitration Act 1996 shall apply to an arbitration conducted in accordance with a scheme having effect by virtue of an order under this section except to the extent that the order provides for any provision of Part I of that Act so to apply; and the order may provide for any such provision so to apply subject to modifications.

(7)A scheme set out in an order under this section may, in relation to an arbitration conducted in accordance with the law of Scotland, make provision—

(a)that a reference on a preliminary point may be made, or

(b)conferring a right of appeal which shall lie,

to the relevant court on such grounds and in respect of such matters as may be specified in the scheme; and in this subsection “relevant court” means such court, being the Court of Session or the Employment Appeal Tribunal, as may be specified in the scheme, and a different court may be specified as regards different grounds or matters.

(8)Where a scheme set out in an order under this section includes provision for the making of re-employment orders in arbitrations conducted in accordance with the scheme, the order setting out the scheme may require employment tribunals to enforce such orders—

(a)in accordance with section 117 of the M2Employment Rights Act 1996 (enforcement by award of compensation), or

(b)in accordance with that section as modified by the order.

For this purpose “re-employment orders” means orders requiring that persons found to have been unfairly dismissed be reinstated, re-engaged or otherwise re-employed.

(9)An order under this section setting out a scheme may provide that, in the case of disputes within subsection (1)(a), such part of an award made in accordance with the scheme as is specified by the order shall be treated as a basic award of compensation for unfair dismissal for the purposes of section 184(1)(d) of the M3Employment Rights Act 1996 (which specifies such an award as a debt which the Secretary of State must satisfy if the employer has become insolvent).

(10)An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.

(11)No order shall be made under subsection (1)(b) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

(12)A statutory instrument containing an order under this section (other than one of which a draft has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

[F14212B Dismissal procedures agreements.E+W+S

ACAS may, in accordance with any dismissal procedures agreement (within the meaning of the M4Employment Rights Act 1996), refer any matter to the arbitration of a person appointed by ACAS for the purpose (not being an officer or employee of ACAS).]

[F15213Advice.E+W+S

(1)ACAS may, on request or otherwise, give employers, employers’ associations, workers and trade unions such advice as it thinks appropriate on matters concerned with or affecting or likely to affect industrial relations.

(2)ACAS may also publish general advice on matters concerned with or affecting or likely to affect industrial relations.]

214 Inquiry.E+W+S

(1)ACAS may, if it thinks fit, inquire into any question relating to industrial relations generally or to industrial relations in any particular industry or in any particular undertaking or part of an undertaking.

(2)The findings of an inquiry under this section, together with any advice given by ACAS in connection with those findings, may be published by ACAS if—

(a)it appears to ACAS that publication is desirable for the improvement of industrial relations, either generally or in relation to the specific question inquired into, and

(b)after sending a draft of the findings to all parties appearing to to be concerned and taking account of their views, it thinks fit.