Employment Tribunals Act 1996

PART IE+W+S[F1Employment Tribunals]

IntroductoryE+W+S

1[F2Employment tribunals]E+W+S

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the establishment of tribunals to be known as [F2employment tribunals].

(2)Regulations made wholly or partly under section 128(1) of the M1Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 and in force immediately before this Act comes into force shall, so far as made under that provision, continue to have effect (until revoked) as if made under subsection (1) F3. . ..

JurisdictionE+W+S

2 Enactments conferring jurisdiction on [F4employment tribunals].E+W+S

[F4Employment tribunals] shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred on them by or by virtue of this Act or any other Act, whether passed before or after this Act.

3 Power to confer further jurisdiction on [F5employment tribunals].E+W+S

(1)The appropriate Minister may by order provide that proceedings in respect of—

(a)any claim to which this section applies, or

(b)any claim to which this section applies and which is of a description specified in the order,

may, subject to such exceptions (if any) as may be so specified, be brought before an [F5employment tribunal].

(2)Subject to subsection (3), this section applies to—

(a)a claim for damages for breach of a contract of employment or other contract connected with employment,

(b)a claim for a sum due under such a contract, and

(c)a claim for the recovery of a sum in pursuance of any enactment relating to the terms or performance of such a contract,

if the claim is such that a court in England and Wales or Scotland would under the law for the time being in force have jurisdiction to hear and determine an action in respect of the claim.

(3)This section does not apply to a claim for damages, or for a sum due, in respect of personal injuries.

(4)Any jurisdiction conferred on an [F5employment tribunal] by virtue of this section in respect of any claim is exercisable concurrently with any court in England and Wales or in Scotland which has jurisdiction to hear and determine an action in respect of the claim.

(5)In this section—

• “appropriate Minister”, as respects a claim in respect of which an action could be heard and determined by a court in England and Wales, means the Lord Chancellor and, as respects a claim in respect of which an action could be heard and determined by a court in Scotland, means the Lord Advocate, and

• “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.

(6)In this section a reference to breach of a contract includes a reference to breach of—

(a)a term implied in a contract by or under any enactment or otherwise,

(b)a term of a contract as modified by or under any enactment or otherwise, and

(c)a term which, although not contained in a contract, is incorporated in the contract by another term of the contract.

Membership etc.E+W+S

4 Composition of a tribunal.E+W+S

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section [F7and to section 7(3A)], proceedings before an [F8employment 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 [F9on a complaint under section 68A [F10, 87] or 192 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 or] on an application under section 161, 165 or 166 of [F11that Act],

(b)proceedings on a complaint under section 126 of the M2Pension Schemes Act 1993,

(c)proceedings [F12on a reference under section 11, 163 or 170 of the Employment Rights Act 1996,] on a complaint under section 23 [F13, 34] or 188 of [F14that Act, on a complaint under section 70(1) of that Act relating to section 64 of that Act,] or on an application under section 128, 131 or 132 of that [F15Act or for an appointment under section 206(4) of that] Act,

[F16(ca)proceedings on a complaint under regulation 11(5) of the M3Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981,]

[F17(cc)proceedings on a complaint under section 11 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998,

F17(cd)proceedings on a complaint under section 19 or 22 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998,]

(d)proceedings in respect of which an [F8employment 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),

F18(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 [F19employment 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 [F8employment tribunal] procedure regulations, the regulations may provide that [F20any act which is required or authorised by the regulations to be done by an employment tribunal and is of a description specified by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection may] be done by the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) alone.

[F21(6A)Subsection (6) in particular enables employment tribunal procedure regulations to provide that—

(a)the determination of proceedings in accordance with regulations under section 7(3A), (3B) or (3C)(a),

(b)the carrying-out of pre-hearing reviews in accordance with regulations under subsection (1) of section 9 (including the exercise of powers in connection with such reviews in accordance with regulations under paragraph (b) of that subsection), or

(c)the hearing and determination of a preliminary issue in accordance with regulations under section 9(4) (where it involves hearing witnesses other than the parties or their representatives as well as where, in accordance with regulations under section 7(3C)(b), it does not),

may be done by the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) alone.]

[F22(6B)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may (subject to subsection (6C)) also provide that any act which—

(a)by virtue of subsection (6) may be done by the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) alone, and

(b)is of a description specified by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection,

may be done by a person appointed as a legal officer in accordance with regulations under section 1(1); and any act so done shall be treated as done by an employment tribunal.

(6C)But regulations under subsection (6B) may not specify—

(a)the determination of any proceedings, other than proceedings in which the parties have agreed the terms of the determination or in which the person bringing the proceedings has given notice of the withdrawal of the case, or

(b)the carrying-out of pre-hearing reviews in accordance with regulations under section 9(1).]

(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

(1)The Secretary of State may pay to—

(a)the [F23President of the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)],

(b)the [F23President of the Employment Tribunals (Scotland)], F24. . .

(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), [F25and]

[F25(d)any person who is a legal officer appointed in accordance with such regulations,]

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

(2)The Secretary of State may pay to—

(a)members of [F23employment tribunals],

(b)any assessors appointed for the purposes of proceedings before [F23employment tribunals], and

(c)any persons required for the purposes of section 2A(l)(b) of the M4Equal 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 [F23employment tribunals].

ProcedureE+W+S

6 Conduct of hearings.E+W+S

(1)A person may appear before an [F41employment tribunals] in person or be represented by—

(a)counsel or a solicitor,

(b)a representative of a trade union or an employers’ association, or

(c)any other person whom he desires to represent him.

(2)[F42Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996] does not apply to any proceedings before an [F41employment tribunals].

7[F43Employment tribunal] procedure regulations.E+W+S

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations (“ [F43employment tribunal] procedure regulations") make such provision as appears to him to be necessary or expedient with respect to proceedings before [F43employment tribunals].

(2)Proceedings before [F43employment tribunals] shall be instituted in accordance with [F43employment tribunal] procedure regulations.

(3)[F43Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may, in particular, include provision—

(a)for determining by which tribunal any proceedings are to be determined,

(b)for enabling an [F43employment tribunal] to hear and determine proceedings brought by virtue of section 3 concurrently with proceedings brought before the tribunal otherwise than by virtue of that section,

(c)for treating the Secretary of State (either generally or in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations) as a party to any proceedings before an [F43employment tribunal] (where he would not otherwise be a party to them) and entitling him to appear and to be heard accordingly,

(d)for requiring persons to attend to give evidence and produce documents and for authorising the administration of oaths to witnesses,

(e)for enabling an [F43employment tribunal], on the application of any party to the proceedings before it or of its own motion, to order—

(i)in England and Wales, such discovery or inspection of documents, or the furnishing of such further particulars, as might be ordered by a county court on application by a party to proceedings before it, or

(ii)in Scotland, such recovery or inspection of documents as might be ordered by a sheriff,

(f)for prescribing the procedure to be followed in any proceedings before an [F43employment tribunal], including provision—

F44(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F45(ia)for postponing fixing a time and place for a hearing, or postponing a time fixed for a hearing, for such period as may be determined in accordance with the regulations for the purpose of giving an opportunity for the proceedings to be settled by way of conciliation and withdrawn, and]

(ii)for enabling an [F43employment tribunal] to review its decisions, and revoke or vary its orders and awards, in such circumstances as may be determined in accordance with the regulations,

(g)for the appointment of one or more assessors for the purposes of any proceedings before an [F43employment tribunal], where the proceedings are brought under an enactment which provides for one or more assessors to be appointed,

(h)for authorising an [F43employment tribunal] to require persons to furnish information and produce documents to a person required for the purposes of section 2A(1)(b) of the M5Equal Pay Act 1970 to prepare a report, and

(j)for the registration and proof of decisions, orders and awards of [F43employment tribunals].

[F46(3ZA)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may—

(a)authorise the Secretary of State to prescribe, or prescribe requirements in relation to, any form which is required by such regulations to be used for the purpose of instituting, or entering an appearance to, proceedings before employment tribunals,

(b)authorise the Secretary of State to prescribe requirements in relation to documents to be supplied with any such form, and

(c)make provision about the publication of anything prescribed under authority conferred by virtue of this subsection.]

[F47[F48(3A)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may authorise the determination of proceedings without any hearing in such circumstances as the regulations may prescribe.]]

F47(3B)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may authorise the determination of proceedings without hearing anyone other than the person or persons by whom the proceedings are brought (or his or their representatives) where—

(a)the person (or, where more than one, each of the persons) against whom the proceedings are brought has done nothing to contest the case, or

(b)it appears from the application made by the person (or, where more than one, each of the persons) bringing the proceedings that he is not (or they are not) seeking any relief which an employment tribunal has power to give or that he is not (or they are not) entitled to any such relief.

F47(3C)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may authorise the determination of proceedings without hearing anyone other than the person or persons by whom, and the person or persons against whom, the proceedings are brought (or his or their representatives) where—

(a)an employment tribunal is on undisputed facts bound by the decision of a court in another case to dismiss the case of the person or persons by whom, or of the person or persons against whom, the proceedings are brought, or

(b)the proceedings relate only to a preliminary issue which may be heard and determined in accordance with regulations under section 9(4).

(4)A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with—

(a)any requirement imposed by virtue of subsection (3)(d) or (h), or

(b)any requirement with respect to the discovery, recovery or inspection of documents imposed by virtue of subsection (3)(e), [F49or

F49(c)any requirement imposed by virtue of employment tribunal procedure regulations to give written answers for the purpose of facilitating the determination of proceedings as mentioned in subsection (3A), (3B) or (3C),]

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5)Subject to any regulations under section 11(1)(a), [F43employment tribunals] procedure regulations may include provision authorising or requiring an [F43employment tribunal], in circumstances specified in the regulations, to send notice or a copy of—

(a)any document specified in the regulations which relates to any proceedings before the tribunal, or

(b)any decision, order or award of the tribunal,

to any government department or other person or body so specified.

(6)Where in accordance with [F43employment tribunal] procedure regulations an [F43employment tribunal] determines in the same proceedings—

(a)a complaint presented under section 111 of the M6Employment Rights Act 1996, and

(b)a question referred under section 163 of that Act,

subsection (2) of that section has no effect for the purposes of the proceedings in so far as they relate to the complaint under section 111.

[F507A Practice directionsE+W+S

(1)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may include provision—

(a)enabling the President to make directions about the procedure of employment tribunals, including directions about the exercise by tribunals of powers under such regulations,

(b)for securing compliance with such directions, and

(c)about the publication of such directions.

(2)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may, instead of providing for any matter, refer to provision made or to be made about that matter by directions made by the President.

(3)In this section, references to the President are to a person appointed in accordance with regulations under section 1(1) as—

(a)President of the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales), or

(b)President of the Employment Tribunals (Scotland).]

8 Procedure in contract cases.E+W+S

(1)Where in proceedings brought by virtue of section 3 an [F54employment tribunal] finds that the whole or part of a sum claimed in the proceedings is due, the tribunal shall order the respondent to the proceedings to pay the amount which it finds due.

(2)An order under section 3 may provide that an [F54employment tribunal] shall not in proceedings in respect of a claim, or a number of claims relating to the same contract, order the payment of an amount exceeding such sum as may be specified in the order as the maximum amount which an [F54employment tribunal] may order to be paid in relation to a claim or in relation to a contract.

(3)An order under section 3 may include provisions—

(a)as to the manner in which and time within which proceedings are to be brought by virtue of that section, and

(b)modifying any other enactment.

(4)An order under that section may make different provision in relation to proceedings in respect of different descriptions of claims.

9 Pre-hearing reviews and preliminary matters.E+W+S

(1)[F55Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may include provision—

(a)for authorising the carrying-out by an [F55employment tribunal ]of a preliminary consideration of any proceedings before it (a “pre-hearing review”), and

(b)for enabling such powers to be exercised in connection with a pre-hearing review as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(2)Such regulations may in particular include provision—

(a)for authorising any tribunal carrying out a pre-hearing review under the regulations to make, in circumstances specified in the regulations, an order requiring a party to the proceedings in question, if he wishes to continue to participate in those proceedings, to pay a deposit of an amount not exceeding [F56£500], and

(b)for prescribing—

(i)the manner in which the amount of any such deposit is to be determined in any particular case,

(ii)the consequences of non-payment of any such deposit, and

(iii)the circumstances in which any such deposit, or any part of it, may be refunded to the party who paid it or be paid over to another party to the proceedings.

[F57(2A)Regulations under subsection (1)(b), so far as relating to striking out, may not provide for striking out on a ground which does not apply outside a pre-hearing review.]

(3)The Secretary of State may from time to time by order substitute for the sum specified in subsection (2)(a) such other sum as is specified in the order.

(4)[F55Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may also include provision for authorising an [F55employment tribunal] to hear and determine [F58separately any preliminary issue of a description prescribed by the regulations which is raised by any case].

[F5910 National security.E+W+S

(1)If on a complaint under—

[F60(a)section 145A, 145B or 146 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (inducements and detriments in respect of trade union membership etc.),]

(b)section 111 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (unfair dismissal),

it is shown that the action complained of was taken for the purpose of safeguarding national security, the employment tribunal shall dismiss the complaint.

(2)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may make provision about the composition of the tribunal (including provision disapplying or modifying section 4) for the purposes of proceedings in relation to which—

(a)a direction is given under subsection (3), or

(b)an order is made under subsection (4).

(3)A direction may be given under this subsection by a Minister of the Crown if—

(a)it relates to particular Crown employment proceedings, and

(b)the Minister considers it expedient in the interests of national security.

(4)An order may be made under this subsection by the President or a Regional Chairman in relation to particular proceedings if he considers it expedient in the interests of national security.

(5)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may make provision enabling a Minister of the Crown, if he considers it expedient in the interests of national security—

(a)to direct a tribunal to sit in private for all or part of particular Crown employment proceedings;

(b)to direct a tribunal to exclude the applicant from all or part of particular Crown employment proceedings;

(c)to direct a tribunal to exclude the applicant’s representatives from all or part of particular Crown employment proceedings;

(d)to direct a tribunal to take steps to conceal the identity of a particular witness in particular Crown employment proceedings;

(e)to direct a tribunal to take steps to keep secret all or part of the reasons for its decision in particular Crown employment proceedings.

[F61(6)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may enable a tribunal, if it considers it expedient in the interests of national security, to do in relation to particular proceedings before it anything of a kind which, by virtue of subsection (5), employment tribunal procedure regulations may enable a Minister of the Crown to direct a tribunal to do in relation to particular Crown employment proceedings.]

(7)In relation to cases where a person has been excluded by virtue of subsection (5)(b) or (c) or (6), employment tribunal procedure regulations may make provision—

(a)for the appointment by the Attorney General, or by the Advocate General for Scotland, of a person to represent the interests of the applicant;

(b)about the publication and registration of reasons for the tribunal’s decision;

(c)permitting an excluded person to make a statement to the tribunal before the commencement of the proceedings, or the part of the proceedings, from which he is excluded.

(8)Proceedings are Crown employment proceedings for the purposes of this section if the employment to which the complaint relates—

(a)is Crown employment, or

(b)is connected with the performance of functions on behalf of the Crown.

(9)The reference in subsection (4) to the President or a Regional Chairman is to a person appointed in accordance with regulations under section 1(1) as—

(a)a Regional Chairman,

(b)President of the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales), or

(c)President of the Employment Tribunals (Scotland).]

F6210A Confidential information.E+W+S

(1)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may enable an employment tribunal to sit in private for the purpose of hearing evidence from any person which in the opinion of the tribunal is likely to consist of—

(a)information which he could not disclose without contravening a prohibition imposed by or by virtue of any enactment,

(b)information which has been communicated to him in confidence or which he has otherwise obtained in consequence of the confidence reposed in him by another person, or

(c)information the disclosure of which would, for reasons other than its effect on negotiations with respect to any of the matters mentioned in section 178(2) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, cause substantial injury to any undertaking of his or in which he works.

(2)The reference in subsection (1)(c) to any undertaking of a person or in which he works shall be construed—

(a)in relation to a person in Crown employment, as a reference to the national interest,

(b)in relation to a person who is a relevant member of the House of Lords staff, as a reference to the national interest or (if the case so requires) the interests of the House of Lords, and

(c)in relation to a person who is a relevant member of the House of Commons staff, as a reference to the national interest or (if the case so requires) the interests of the House of Commons.

F6310B Restriction of publicity in cases involving national security.E+W+S

(1)This section applies where a tribunal has been directed under section 10(5) or has determined under section 10(6)—

(a)to take steps to conceal the identity of a particular witness, or

(b)to take steps to keep secret all or part of the reasons for its decision.

(2)It is an offence to publish—

(a)anything likely to lead to the identification of the witness, or

(b)the reasons for the tribunal’s decision or the part of its reasons which it is directed or has determined to keep secret.

(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(4)Where a person is charged with an offence under this section it is a defence to prove that at the time of the alleged offence he was not aware, and neither suspected nor had reason to suspect, that the publication in question was of, or included, the matter in question.

(5)Where an offence under this section committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a)a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or

(b)a person purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(6)A reference in this section to publication includes a reference to inclusion in a programme which is included in a programme service, within the meaning of the M7Broadcasting Act 1990.

11 Restriction of publicity in cases involving sexual misconduct.E+W+S

(1)[F64Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may include provision—

(a)for cases involving allegations of the commission of sexual offences, for securing that the registration or other making available of documents or decisions shall be so effected as to prevent the identification of any person affected by or making the allegation, and

(b)for cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct, enabling an [F64employment tribunal], on the application of any party to proceedings before it or of its own motion, to make a restricted reporting order having effect (if not revoked earlier) until the promulgation of the decision of the tribunal.

(2)If any identifying matter is published or included in a relevant programme in contravention of a restricted reporting order—

(a)in the case of publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical,

(b)in the case of publication in any other form, the person publishing the matter, and

(c)in the case of matter included in a relevant programme—

(i)any body corporate engaged in providing the service in which the programme is included, and

(ii)any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3)Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2) it is a defence to prove that at the time of the alleged offence he was not aware, and neither suspected nor had reason to suspect, that the publication or programme in question was of, or included, the matter in question.

(4)Where an offence under subsection (2) committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a)a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or

(b)a person purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(5)In relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members “director", in subsection (4), means a member of the body corporate.

(6)In this section—

• “identifying matter”, in relation to a person, means any matter likely to lead members of the public to identify him as a person affected by, or as the person making, the allegation,

• “relevant programme” has the same meaning as in the M8Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992,

• “restricted reporting order” means an order—

  (a)

  made in exercise of a power conferred by regulations made by virtue of this section, and

  (b)

  prohibiting the publication in Great Britain of identifying matter in a written publication available to the public or its inclusion in a relevant programme for reception in Great Britain,

• “sexual misconduct” means the commission of a sexual offence, sexual harassment or other adverse conduct (of whatever nature) related to sex, and conduct is related to sex whether the relationship with sex lies in the character of the conduct or in its having reference to the sex or sexual orientation of the person at whom the conduct is directed,

• “sexual offence” means any offence to which section 4 of the M9Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 or section 274(2) of the M10Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 applies (offences under the M11Sexual Offences Act 1956, Part I of the M12Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 and certain other enactments), and

• “written publication” has the same meaning as in the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

12 Restriction of publicity in disability cases.E+W+S

(1)This section applies to proceedings on a complaint under [F65section 17A or 25(8)] of the M13Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in which evidence of a personal nature is likely to be heard by the [F66employment tribunal] hearing the complaint.

(2)[F66Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may include provision in relation to proceedings to which this section applies for—

(a)enabling an [F66employment tribunal], on the application of the complainant or of its own motion, to make a restricted reporting order having effect (if not revoked earlier) until the promulgation of the decision of the tribunal, and

(b)where a restricted reporting order is made in relation to a complaint which is being dealt with by the tribunal together with any other proceedings, enabling the tribunal to direct that the order is to apply also in relation to those other proceedings or such part of them as the tribunal may direct.

(3)If any identifying matter is published or included in a relevant programme in contravention of a restricted reporting order—

(a)in the case of publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical,

(b)in the case of publication in any other form, the person publishing the matter, and

(c)in the case of matter included in a relevant programme—

(i)any body corporate engaged in providing the service in which the programme is included, and

(ii)any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(4)Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (3), it is a defence to prove that at the time of the alleged offence he was not aware, and neither suspected nor had reason to suspect, that the publication or programme in question was of, or included, the matter in question.

(5)Where an offence under subsection (3) committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a)a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or

(b)a person purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(6)In relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members “director", in subsection (5), means a member of the body corporate.

(7)In this section—

• “evidence of a personal nature” means any evidence of a medical, or other intimate, nature which might reasonably be assumed to be likely to cause significant embarrassment to the complainant if reported,

• “identifying matter” means any matter likely to lead members of the public to identify the complainant or such other persons (if any) as may be named in the order,

• “promulgation” has such meaning as may be prescribed by regulations made by virtue of this section,

• “relevant programme” means a programme included in a programme service, within the meaning of the M14Broadcasting Act 1990,

• “restricted reporting order” means an order—

  (a)

  made in exercise of a power conferred by regulations made by virtue of this section, and

  (b)

  prohibiting the publication in Great Britain of identifying matter in a written publication available to the public or its inclusion in a relevant programme for reception in Great Britain, and

• “written publication” includes a film, a sound track and any other record in permanent form but does not include an indictment or other document prepared for use in particular legal proceedings.

13 Costs and expenses.E+W+S

[F67(1)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may include provision—

(a)for the award of costs or expenses;

(b)for the award of any allowances payable under section 5(2)(c) or (3).

(1A)Regulations under subsection (1) may include provision authorising an employment tribunal to have regard to a person’s ability to pay when considering the making of an award against him under such regulations.

(1B)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may include provision for authorising an employment tribunal—

(a)to disallow all or part of the costs or expenses of a representative of a party to proceedings before it by reason of that representative’s conduct of the proceedings;

(b)to order a representative of a party to proceedings before it to meet all or part of the costs or expenses incurred by a party by reason of the representative’s conduct of the proceedings;

(c)to order a representative of a party to proceedings before it to meet all or part of any allowances payable by the Secretary of State under section 5(2)(c) or (3) by reason of the representative’s conduct of the proceedings.

(1C)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may also include provision for taxing or otherwise settling the costs or expenses referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (1B)(b) (and, in particular in England and Wales, for enabling the amount of such costs to be assessed by way of detailed assessment in a county court).]

(2)In relation to proceedings under section 111 of the M15Employment Rights Act 1996—

(a)where the employee has expressed a wish to be reinstated or re-engaged which has been communicated to the employer at least seven days before the hearing of the complaint, F68. . .

F69(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F70employment tribunal] procedure regulations shall include provision for requiring the employer to pay the costs or expenses of any postponement or adjournment of the hearing caused by his failure, without a special reason, to adduce reasonable evidence as to the availability of the job from which the complainant was dismissed F68. . . or of comparable or suitable employment.

[F7113A Payments in respect of preparation timeE+W+S

(1)Employment tribunal procedure regulations may include provision for authorising an employment tribunal to order a party to proceedings before it to make a payment to any other party in respect of time spent in preparing that other party’s case.

(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may include provision authorising an employment tribunal to have regard to a person’s ability to pay when considering the making of an order against him under such regulations.

(3)If employment tribunal procedure regulations include—

(a)provision of the kind mentioned in subsection (1), and

(b)provision of the kind mentioned in section 13(1)(a),

they shall also include provision to prevent an employment tribunal exercising its powers under both kinds of provision in favour of the same person in the same proceedings.]

14 Interest.E+W+S

(1)The Secretary of State may by order made with the approval of the Treasury provide that sums payable in pursuance of decisions of [F72employment tribunals] shall carry interest at such rate and between such times as may be prescribed by the order.

(2)Any interest due by virtue of such an order shall be recoverable as a sum payable in pursuance of the decision.

(3)The power conferred by subsection (1) includes power—

(a)to specify cases or circumstances in which interest is not payable,

(b)to provide that interest is payable only on sums exceeding a specified amount or falling between specified amounts,

(c)to make provision for the manner in which and the periods by reference to which interest is to be calculated and paid,

(d)to provide that any enactment—

(i)does or does not apply in relation to interest payable by virtue of subsection (1), or

(ii)applies to it with such modifications as may be specified in the order,

(e)to make provision for cases where sums are payable in pursuance of decisions or awards made on appeal from [F72employment tribunals],

(f)to make such incidental or supplemental provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary.

(4)In particular, an order under subsection (1) may provide that the rate of interest shall be the rate specified in section 17 of the M16Judgments Act 1838 as that enactment has effect from time to time.

15 Enforcement.E+W+S

(1)Any sum payable in pursuance of a decision of an [F73employment tribunal] in England and Wales which has been registered in accordance with [F73employment tribunal] procedure regulations shall, if a county court so orders, be recoverable by execution issued from the county court or otherwise as if it were payable under an order of that court.

(2)Any order for the payment of any sum made by an [F73employment tribunal] in Scotland (or any copy of such an order certified by the Secretary of the Tribunals) may be enforced as if it were an extract registered decree arbitral bearing a warrant for execution issued by the sheriff court of any sheriffdom in Scotland.

(3)In this section a reference to a decision or order of an [F73employment tribunal]—

(a)does not include a decision or order which, on being reviewed, has been revoked by the tribunal, and

(b)in relation to a decision or order which on being reviewed, has been varied by the tribunal, shall be construed as a reference to the decision or order as so varied.

Recoupment of social security benefitsE+W+S

16 Power to provide for recoupment of benefits.E+W+S

(1)This section applies to payments which are the subject of proceedings before [F74employment tribunals] and which are—

(a)payments of wages or compensation for loss of wages,

(b)payments by employers to employees under sections 146 to 151, sections 168 to 173 or section 192 of the M17Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992,

(c)payments by employers to employees under—

(i)Part III, V, VI or VII,

(ii)section 93, or

(iii)Part X,

of the M18Employment Rights Act 1996, or

(d)payments by employers to employees of a nature similar to, or for a purpose corresponding to the purpose of, payments within paragraph (b) or (c),

and to payments of remuneration under a protective award under section 189 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

(2)The Secretary of State may by regulations make with respect to payments to which this section applies provision for any or all of the purposes specified in subsection (3).

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

(a)enabling the Secretary of State to recover from an employer, by way of total or partial recoupment of jobseeker’s allowance or income support—

(i)a sum not exceeding the amount of the prescribed element of the monetary award, or

(ii)in the case of a protective award, the amount of the remuneration,

(b)requiring or authorising an [F74employment tribunal] to order the payment of such a sum, by way of total or partial recoupment of either benefit, to the Secretary of State instead of to an employee, and

(c)requiring an [F74employment tribunal] to order the payment to an employee of only the excess of the prescribed element of the monetary award over the amount of any jobseeker’s allowance or income support shown to the tribunal to have been paid to the employee and enabling the Secretary of State to recover from the employer, by way of total or partial recoupment of the benefit, a sum not exceeding that amount.

(4)Regulations under this section may be framed—

(a)so as to apply to all payments to which this section applies or to one or more classes of those payments, and

(b)so as to apply to both jobseeker’s allowance and income support, or to only jobseeker’s allowance or income support.

(5)Regulations under this section may—

(a)confer powers and impose duties on [F74employment tribunals] or [F75adjudication officers or] other persons,

(b)impose on an employer to whom a monetary award or protective award relates a duty—

(i)to furnish particulars connected with the award, and

(ii)to suspend payments in pursuance of the award during any period prescribed by the regulations,

(c)provide for an employer who pays a sum to the Secretary of State in pursuance of this section to be relieved from any liability to pay the sum to another person,

[F76(cc)provide for the determination by the Secretary of State of any issue arising as to the total or partial recoupment in pursuance of the regulations of a jobseeker’s allowance, unemployment benefit or income support,

F76(d)confer on an employee a right of appeal to an appeal tribunal constituted under Chapter I of Part I of the Social Security Act 1998 against any decision of the Secretary of State on any such issue, and]

(e)provide for the proof in proceedings before [F74employment tribunals] (whether by certificate or in any other manner) of any amount of jobseeker’s allowance or income support paid to an employee.

(6)Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases.

17 Recoupment: further provisions.E+W+S

(1)Where in pursuance of any regulations under section 16 a sum has been recovered by or paid to the Secretary of State by way of total or partial recoupment of jobseeker’s allowance or income support—

(a)no sum shall be recoverable under Part III or V of the M19Social Security Administration Act 1992, and

(b)no abatement, payment or reduction shall be made by reference to the jobseeker’s allowance or income support recouped.

(2)Any amount found to have been duly recovered by or paid to the Secretary of State in pursuance of regulations under section 16 by way of total or partial recoupment of jobseeker’s allowance shall be paid into the National Insurance Fund.

(3)In section 16—

• “monetary award” means the amount which is awarded, or ordered to be paid, to the employee by the tribunal or would be so awarded or ordered apart from any provision of regulations under that section, and

• “the prescribed element”, in relation to any monetary award, means so much of that award as is attributable to such matters as may be prescribed by regulations under that section.

(4)In section 16 “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” has the same meaning as in the M20Jobseekers Act 1995.

ConciliationE+W+S

18 Conciliation.E+W+S

(1)This section applies in the case of [F77employment tribunal] proceedings and claims which could be the subject of [F77employment tribunal] proceedings—

(a)under—

(i)section 2(1) of the M21Equal Pay Act 1970,

(ii)section 63 of the M22Sex Discrimination Act 1975, or

(iii)section 54 of the M23Race Relations Act 1976,

(b)arising out of a contravention, or alleged contravention, of section 64, 68 [F78, 86], 137, 138, [F79145A, 145B,]146, 168, [F80168A,] 169, 170, 174, 188 or 190 of the M24Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992,

(c)under [F81section 17A or 25(8)] of the M25Disability Discrimination Act 1995,

(d)[F82under or] arising out of a contravention, or alleged contravention, of section 8, 13, 15, 18(1), 21(1), 28 [F83, [F8280G(1), 80H(1)(b),] 92 or 135,] or of Part V, VI, VII or X, of the M26Employment Rights Act 1996,

[F84(dd)under or by virtue of section 11, 18, 20(1)(a) or 24 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998;]

(e)which are proceedings in respect of which an [F77employment tribunal] has jurisdiction by virtue of section 3 of this Act, F85. . .

(f)[F86under or] arising out of a contravention, or alleged contravention, of a provision specified by an order under subsection (8)(b) as a provision to which this paragraph applies [F87. . .

F88(ff)under regulation 30 of the M27Working Time Regulations 1998,]. . .

(g)under regulation 27 or 32 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999.

(h)arising out of a contravention, or alleged contravention of regulation [F915(1) or] 7(2) of the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.]

[F92(i)arising out of a contravention, or alleged contravention of regulation 3 or 6(2) of the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002; F93. . .

(j)under regulation 9 of those Regulations.]

• [F94F95. . .

  (k)

  under regulation 28 of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003]

• [F96F97. . .

(1)under regulation 28 of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003]

[F98(m)under regulation 18 of the Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003.]

(n) under regulation 41 or 45 of the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004.]

[F101[F102(o)]under regulation 19 of the Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004.]

(p)under regulation 29 or 33 of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004.]

(2)Where an application has been presented to an [F77employment tribunal], and a copy of it has been sent to a conciliation officer, it is the duty of the conciliation officer—

(a)if he is requested to do so by the person by whom and the person against whom the proceedings are brought, or

(b)if, in the absence of any such request, the conciliation officer considers that he could act under this subsection with a reasonable prospect of success,

to endeavour to promote a settlement of the proceedings without their being determined by an [F77employment tribunal].

[F104(2A)Where employment tribunal procedure regulations include provision postponing the fixing of a time and place for a hearing for the purpose of giving an opportunity for the proceedings to be settled by way of conciliation and withdrawn, subsection (2) shall have effect from the end of the postponement to confer a power on the conciliation officer, instead of imposing a duty.]

(3)Where at any time—

(a)a person claims that action has been taken in respect of which proceedings could be brought by him before an [F77employment tribunal], but

(b)before any application relating to that action has been presented by him a request is made to a conciliation officer (whether by that person or by the person against whom the proceedings could be instituted) to make his services available to them,

the conciliation officer shall act in accordance with subsection (2) as if an application had been presented to an [F77employment tribunal].

(4)Where a person who has presented a complaint to an [F77employment tribunal] under section 111 of the M28Employment Rights Act 1996 has ceased to be employed by the employer against whom the complaint was made, the conciliation officer shall (for the purpose of promoting a settlement of the complaint in accordance with subsection (2)) in particular—

(a)seek to promote the reinstatement or re-engagement of the complainant by the employer, or by a successor of the employer or by an associated employer, on terms appearing to the conciliation officer to be equitable, or

(b)where the complainant does not wish to be reinstated or re-engaged, or where reinstatement or re-engagement is not practicable, and the parties desire the conciliation officer to act, seek to promote agreement between them as to a sum by way of compensation to be paid by the employer to the complainant.

(5)Where at any time—

(a)a person claims that action has been taken in respect of which a complaint could be presented by him to an [F77employment tribunal] under section 111 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, but

(b)before any complaint relating to that action has been presented by him a request is made to a conciliation officer (whether by that person or by the employer) to make his services available to them,

the conciliation officer shall act in accordance with subsection (4) as if a complaint had been presented to an [F77employment tribunal] under section 111.

(6)In proceeding under this section a conciliation officer shall, where appropriate, have regard to the desirability of encouraging the use of other procedures available for the settlement of grievances.

(7)Anything communicated to a conciliation officer in connection with the performance of his functions under this section shall not be admissible in evidence in any proceedings before an [F77employment tribunal], except with the consent of the person who communicated it to that officer.

(8)The Secretary of State may by order—

(a)direct that further provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 be added to the list in subsection (1)(d), or

(b)specify a provision of any other Act as a provision to which subsection (1)(f) applies.

19 Conciliation procedure.E+W+S

[F105(1)][F106Employment tribunal] procedure regulations shall include in relation to [F106employment tribunal] proceedings in the case of which any enactment makes provision for conciliation—

(a)provisions requiring a copy of the application by which the proceedings are instituted, and a copy of any notice relating to it which is lodged by or on behalf of the person against whom the proceedings are brought, to be sent to a conciliation officer, [F107and]

(b)provisions securing that the applicant and the person against whom the proceedings are brought are notified that the services of a conciliation officer are available to them, F108. . .

F108(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F109(2)If employment tribunal procedure regulations include provision postponing the fixing of a time and place for a hearing for the purpose of giving an opportunity for the proceedings to be settled by way of conciliation and withdrawn, they shall also include provision for the parties to proceedings to which the provision for postponement applies to be notified that the services of a conciliation officer may no longer be available to them after the end of the postponement.]