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Written question asked by Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 July 2026. It was answered by Sarah Sackman (Labour) on Friday, 10 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Employment Tribunals Service: Standards

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of employment tribunal waiting times on workers pursuing claims relating to (a) unfair dismissal, (b) discrimination and (c) unlawful deduction from wages.

Answer

Workers should be able to enforce their employment rights in a timely manner. As of April 2026, the average time from claim receipt to disposal was 59.6 weeks. Most one- and two-day hearings are currently being listed in 2026, although waiting times for longer hearings vary geographically.

We recognise the significant pressures facing Employment Tribunals and are taking action to increase capacity and reduce waiting times. This includes funding 32,590 sitting days in 2026/27, recruiting additional Employment Judges and operating a virtual region which enables 2,000 sitting days a year to be heard without geographical restriction.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
15206
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Deductions Employment Tribunals Service Discrimination Pay Standards Unfair dismissal
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk