Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Tribunals Service?
2. What will happen to new tribunals?
3. And local government tribunals?
4. How will devolved tribunals be affected by these reforms?
5. Will the special nature of individual tribunals be lost in the single service?
6. How many tribunals does the Tribunals Service currently support?
7. How do I submit a research request?

1. What is the Tribunals Service?

The Tribunals Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). It provides common administrative support to 21 central government tribunals plus the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry and The Gender Recognition Panel (these last two are not technically tribunals). There are plans for more tribunals to join the Service from other government departs in the future.

2. What will happen to new tribunals?

The Government has agreed that all new, non-devolved, central government tribunals will be established as part of the Tribunals Service.

3. And local government tribunals?

Local government tribunals have, for now, been excluded from the remit of the new Service. Their funding and sponsorship arrangements are sufficiently different to merit separate and fuller review.

4. How will devolved tribunals be affected by these reforms?

The scope of the new Service is currently limited to non-devolved, central government tribunals, although some of these will have a Great Britain or UK wide presence. For those tribunals that are administered by the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland, there is much that can achieved through sharing - whether actual resources such as buildings, or just sharing ideas. The Tribunals Service will therefore look to work closely with the devolved administrations to make the best use of facilities available to both.

5. Will the special nature of individual tribunals be lost in the single service?

No. The Tribunals Service has a structure that recognises individuality. Over time, some tribunals may come closer together but this will only happen where it is in the interests of users.

6. How many tribunals does the Tribunals Service currently support?

The Tribunals Service provides independent administrative support to 27 central government tribunals and organisations. An alphabetical list is below.

They are:

Adjudicator to HM Land Registry
Asylum & Immigration Tribunal
Asylum Support Tribunal
Care Standards Tribunal
Claims Management Services Tribunal
Charity Tribunal
Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal
The Commissioners Office
Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel
Employment Tribunals
Employment Appeal Tribunal
Estate Agents Appeal Panel
Financial Services and Markets Tribunal
Gambling Appeals Tribunal
Gender Recognition Panel
General Commissioners of Income Tax
Information Tribunal
Immigration Services Tribunal
Lands Tribunal
Mental Health Review Tribunal
Pathogen Access Appeals Commission
Pensions Appeal Tribunal
Pensions Regulator Tribunal
Proscribed Organisations Appeals Commission
Social Security and Child Support Appeals Tribunal
Special Commissioners of Income Tax
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
Special Immigration Appeals Commission
Transport Tribunal
VAT and Duties Tribunal

7. How do I submit a research request?

You can submit research requests to the Tribunals Service by using the email link below.

Submit a research request to the Tribunals Service.