Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

Part 1: Tribunals and Inquiries

Commentary on Sections: Part 1

Section 47: Co-operation in relation to judicial training, guidance and welfare

234.Section 47 establishes a duty of co-operation between the offices of the Senior President of Tribunals, the Lord Chief Justices and the Lord President in relation to judicial guidance, training and welfare. The Senior President has responsibility for the maintenance of appropriate arrangements for the welfare, training and guidance of tribunal judiciary and members of the First-tier and Upper Tribunals (paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 and paragraph 9 of Schedule 3) and for judiciary and members of the employment tribunals, the EAT and the AIT (paragraphs 40, 44 and 54 of Schedule 8). The Lord Chief Justices of England and Wales and Northern Ireland have the same responsibility for the court judiciary.

235.In carrying out these responsibilities it is desirable for there to be a duty of co-operation between the Senior President and the Lord Chief Justices (and including the Lord President even though he has no statutory responsibility for such provision at the time of Royal Assent to this Act). In practical terms, this means the use by tribunals of institutions which report to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (e.g. the Judicial Studies Board for training, the Judicial Communications Office for advice on media and handling, and arrangements for counselling and supporting judges under the contract that was set up by MoJ and are now the responsibility of the Judicial Office).