News
Lord Newton of Braintree 1937-2012
Lord (Tony) Newton of Braintree, the first Chairman of the AJTC, died on 25 March 2012.
Tony Newton was appointed Chairman of the Council on Tribunals in 1999 and became the first Chairman of the Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council in 2007. Over the 10 years that he led these two organisations, he played a key role in the programme of reforms which transformed tribunals into a central component of the machinery of justice. He became widely recognised and respected by judges, lawyers and interest groups as a champion of access to justice for ordinary individuals with a grievance against the State. Explaining the work of the AJTC, he said:
"while we use this phrase administrative justice, what we're doing is to talk about how the citizen gets a fair deal and a proper hearing from the people who provide public services"
Despite declining physical health, over the last two years he led a vigorous campaign in the House of Lords seeking to persuade the government that it woul be misguided to abolish the AJTC.
Speaking in a Lords' debate on the Public Bodies Bill he asked:
"Why preserve the Civil Justice Council, which I am in favour of, and the Family Justice Council, which I am also in favour of, but abandon the one council which is concerned with justice between the citizen and the state and which has a 50-year-plus track record of bringing about improvements in that area? Let us be clear: we are not talking here about great judicial reviews or developers seeking to get their plans past a planning refusal. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of social security claimants, people claiming disability benefits, people who are under compulsary orders going to mental health tribunals and a whole range of others...Why is this the Cinderella?"
The members and staff of the AJTC and its Committees extend their deepest condolences to Tony Newton's family and friends.
AJTC Response to Family Migration - A Consultation
The AJTC has responded (06 October) to the UK Border Agency's consultation on Family Migration. The Council does not consider it appropriate to remove rights of appeal in these cases.
(16 February 2012) View
AJTC Conference 2011
The latest AJTC annual conference was held at the BIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London on 17 November 2011.
(06 January 2012) View
Devolution of Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans: Consultation on Successor Arrangements
The Scottish Committee responded to the Scottish Government consultation on the Devolution of Community Care Grants: Successor Arrangements.
(09 November 2011) View
Reform of the fitness to practise procedures at the GMC
The AJTC responded (13 June) to the GMC's consultation on reform of its fitness to practise procedures.
(24 August 2011) View
AJTC response to consultation: draft First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Fees Order 2011
The AJTC has been formally consulted on the draft First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Fees Order 2011 in accordance with the Lord Chancellor’s statutory obligation under Section 42(5) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
(24 August 2011) View
Welfare Reform Bill
The AJTC Chairman, Richard Thomas, has (18 May 2011) written to the Secretary of State State for Work and Pensions in connection with a provision in the Welfare Reform Bill for a statutory reconsideration process.
(24 August 2011) View
Proposed Abolition of the AJTC - Consultation
Between July and October 2011 the Ministry of Justice consulted on the reforms to its public bodies as proposed in the Public Bodies Bill then before Parliament. The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council is one of the bodies whose abolition the Bill (now the Public Bodies Act 2011) will permit.
(16 February 2012) View
Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
On 18 July 2011 the AJTC Chairman, Richard Thomas, wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice with suggestions for improving access to justice for those challenging social security decisions whilst at the same time reducing public expenditure.
(16 February 2012) View
Judicial Appointments Process - AJTC Evidence
On 13 May 2011 the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution announced an inquiry into the judicial appointments process for the courts and tribunals of England and Wales and Northern Ireland (including first instance courts) and for the UK Supreme Court. The AJTC submitted evidence to the Committee on 29 June 2011
(16 February 2012) View
Tribunal Reform in Scotland
This is the second report produced by Elaine Samuel.
(02 June 2011) View
Patients' Experiences of the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health)
Publication (30 March 2011) of report commissioned by the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (AJTC), and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
(25 May 2011) View
Education Bill
The AJTC Chairman, Richard Thomas, has (March 2011) written to the Secretary of State for Education expressing the AJTC's concerns about provisions in the Education Bill relating to exclusion appeal panels
(25 May 2011) View
CTiP Consultation
The AJTC has responded (21 February) to the Ministry of Justice's consultation on the Courts and Tribunals Integration Project (CTiP).
(20 April 2011) View
Localism Bill - Memorandum to Public Bill Commitee
The AJTC has (01 Feb 2011) placed a Memorandum of evidence before the Public Bill Commitee. The Memorandum sets out the AJTC's concerns regarding proposals in the Localism Bill and restrictions on citizen's access to the Housing Ombudsman.
(10 March 2011) View
Time for Action
The AJTC on 28 February 2011 published its report 'Time for Action’, which highlights the impact of appeal delays on benefit claimants, recommending the introduction of 42 day time limit for decision makers in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to deal with appeals.
The report highlights the impact of appeal delays on benefit claimants, which has been a matter of growing concern over a number of years, more recently due to increasing numbers of appeals against decisions on Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.
The AJTC believes it is inequitable that the appeal rules prescribe a time limit of one month for claimants to submit an appeal against a decision whereas they only require the Department to respond ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’. The report recommends the introduction of a 42 day time limit, which is believed to be both fair and achievable.
(19 September 2011) View
Tribunal Reform in Scotland
The Scottish Committee has published its report entitled "Tribunal Reform in Scotland - a vision for the future".
(24 February 2011) View
AJTC Response to Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales
The AJTC has today responded to the Ministry of Justice consultation document Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England & Wales.
(14 February 2011) View
Ensuring effective access to appropriate and affordable dispute resolution
Report of the Civil Justice Advisory Group (Scotland)
(27 January 2011) View
Fees in Immigration & Asylum Cases
The AJTC has responded to the recent consultation on introducing fees for appeals in the Immigration and Asylum Chambers of the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal
(25 January 2011) View
Tribunal Reform in Scotland
The Report produced by Elaine Samuel considers the Scottish Civil Courts Review and the implications for tribunals in Scotland.
(29 December 2010) View
JAC- Recruitment of Employment and Immigration Judges
The JAC is now inviting applications for (salaried) Designated Immigration Judges and for Employment Judges
(02 December 2010) View
AJTC Conference 2010
Around 180 delegates from the Administrative Justice world attended the AJTC’s Annual Conference on 17 November 2010
(18 November 2010) View
Annual Reports
The AJTC and its Scottish and Welsh Committees have published their 2009/10 Annual Reports.
(03 November 2010) View
Principles for Adminstrative Justice
After widespread consultation, the AJTC has today (03 November) published its Principles for Administrative Justice.
(03 November 2010) View
Proposed Abolition of the AJTC
Statement by AJTC Chairman on 14 October 2010 concerning proposed abolition of the AJTC
(27 January 2011) View
Conference 2010
The AJTC Annual Conference 2010 will be held on Wednesday 17 November 2010 at One Great George Street, London SW1
(24 August 2010) View
Options for tribunal reform in Scotland - a discussion paper
The Scottish Committee has published a discussion paper seeking views and observations on the issues requiring to be addressed in establishing a Scottish Tribunals Service.
(22 June 2010) View
Action Plan 2010/11
Action Plan 2010/11 published.
(21 May 2010) View
The Scottish Committee publishes volume 6 of the Tribunal Training Register
The register provides an overview of training provided by tribunals in Scotland.
(26 April 2010) View
Principles for Adminstrative Justice
The AJTC has published, for consultation, ten key principles of Adminstrative Justice. The consultation paper and introductory letter can be downloaded from this site. Consultation closes on 18 June 2010.
(23 March 2010) View
The Scottish Government consultation on the Options for Future Charity Appeals Route in Scotland
The Scottish Committee response to the consultation.
(03 March 2010) View
Strategic Plan
The AJTC has today published its Strategic Plan, setting out our strategy and programme of work for the next three years. It re-states the objectives and approach of the AJTC and is the sucessor to the Work Programme published in 2008.
(24 February 2010) View
Recruitment of Fee Paid Employment Judges
The Judicial Appointments Commission have launched a campaign to recruit fee paid Employment Judges.
(04 February 2010) View
Review of Tribunals Operating in Wales
The Welsh Committee of the AJTC has today published its first Special Report which reviews tribunals operating in Wales.
(29 January 2010) View
Recruitment of Immigration Judges
The Judicial Appointments Commission is recruiting 21 Judges of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to sit in various locations Further information can be found by visiting the Judicial Appointments Commission's website.
(07 January 2010) View
Research Assistants
Research Assistant Vacancies - Together with the Law Commission we are recruiting Research Assistants to start in September 2010. There are up to two vacancies at the AJTC.
(15 December 2009) View
Valuation Appeal Committees in Scotland Special Report
The Scottish Committee of the AJTC has published a Special Report looking at the operation of Valuation Appeal Committees in Scotland.
(18 November 2009) View
AJTC Conference, 12 November 2009
Confirmations for the AJTC Conference at One Great George Street were dispatched on 26 October.
(29 October 2009) View
New Chair for the Scottish Committee of the AJTC
Richard Henderson has been appointed to the Chair of the Scottish Committee of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council with effect from 17 August 2009.
(08 October 2009) View
Judicial Appointments
The JAC are running competitions for salaried judges of the First-Tier Tribunal and other posts.
(21 September 2009) View
AJTC Member Recruitment
The Ministry of Justice are now recruiting for vacancies on the AJTC
(07 September 2009) View
AJTC Annual Report 2008/9 Published
The AJTC has today published its Annual Report for 2008/9 covering its first full year of operation.
(15 July 2009) View
The AJTC Scottish Committee Annual Report for 2008/09
The Scottish Committee of the AJTC published its Annual Report for 2008-09 on 25 June.
(02 July 2009) View
The AJTC Welsh Committee Annual Report for 2008/09
The Welsh Committee of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council was set up in June 2008 to ensure a coherent, accessible and fair administrative justice system in Wales. Here is the Committtee's first Annual Report.
(16 June 2009) View
Tribunal Training Register 2009
The Scottish Committee has published the 5th edition of the Tribunal Training Register 2009.
(21 May 2009) View
JSB Tribunals Training Prospectus
Tribunal Training prospectus 2009
(21 May 2009) View
Appointment of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
The new Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is Jim Martin, who is currently the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland.
(30 April 2009) View
Appointment of Chair of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State, Jack Straw has appointed Richard Thomas as the new Chair of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council with the agreement of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers.
(28 April 2009) View
Proposed Closure of Social Security & Child Support Agency Hearing Centre
AJTC's response to the Tribunals Service's consultation "Proposed Closure of Social Security & Child Support Agency Hearing Centre, Wigfield House, Portsmouth".
(27 April 2009) View
The Scottish Committee response to the Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry legislation
Consultation response from the Scottish Committee.
(07 April 2009) View
Future Administration and Supervision of Tribunals in Scotland
The Administrative Justice Steering Group, under the Chairmanship of Lord Philip, has today (6 October 2008) published its report on the Future Administration and Supervision of Tribunals in Scotland.
(06 October 2008) View
JSB Tribunal Skills Development Course
The Judicial Studies Board are currently taking nominations for their next Tribunal Skills Development Course
(29 August 2008) View
Welsh Commitee Members Appointed
The First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, has agreed the appointment of three Members for the Welsh Committee of the AJTC.
(03 June 2008) View
Tribunal User Groups Survey Report
In 2007 the Council on Tribunals, now the AJTC, undertook a short survey focussing on the operation of tribunal user groups. Read the report of the survey here.
(25 April 2008) View
New Chair to oversee Administrative Justice in Wales
Professor Sir Adrian Webb has been nominated as the first Chair of the Welsh Committee of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, which will come into being on 1 June 2008.
(07 March 2008) View
Transforming Tribunals: AJTC Consultation Response
The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council has responded to the Ministry of Justice's consultation paper on tribunal reform.
(07 March 2008) View
Administrative Justice in Wales 2007: Conference Report
The full report of the 'Advancing Administrative Justice in Wales' Conference 2007 is now available for download.
(11 December 2007) View
Transforming Tribunals: Consultation
The Tribunals Service is consulting on plans to implement part 1 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Deadline for responses: 22 February 2008.
(28 November 2007) View
Scottish
Cymru / Welsh
The latest edition of the AJTC's quarterly electronic newsletter.
