About us
The Tribunal Procedure Committee makes rules governing the practice and procedure in the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal.
Privacy notice
Conflict of interest policy
Our responsibilities
We make rules with the aim of ensuring that:
- tribunals are accessible and fair
- cases are quick and efficient
- rules are simple and clear
We also carry out consultations on proposed changes to the rules.
Visit the National Archives to view our older closed consultations.
Our priorities
Our priorities will be to keep the 9 sets of Tribunal Procedural Rules under constant review. We’ll consider new appeal rights and amendments brought about by other government departments and legislative change.
Membership
Members are appointed or nominated by senior members of the judiciary or the Lord Chancellor.
The committee holds about 9 meetings per year.
| Name | Role | Appointed by | First appointed | Term of office ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Justice Joanna Smith | TPC Chairwoman | Senior President, Tribunals | November 2021 | |
| Donald Ferguson | Tribunal Judge | Lord President of the Court of Session | 8 March 2017 | 22 March 2025 |
| Christine Martin | Member | Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales | 31 March 2022 | 31 March 2025 |
| Gabriella Bettiga | Member | Lord Chancellor | 2 May 2021 | 1 May 2024 |
| Mark Loveday | First-tier Tribunal Judge | Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales | 3 October 2018 | 02 October 2024 |
| Philip Brook Smith KC | Tribunal Member | Lord Chancellor | 4 July 2023 | 3 July 2026 |
| Susan Humble | Tribunal Member | Lord Chancellor | 4 July 2023 | 3 July 2026 |
| Michael Reed | Tribunal Member | Lord Chief Justice | 22 May 2023 | 21 May 2026 |
| Stephen Smith | Upper Tribunal Judge | Lord Chief Justice | 29 July 2022 | 28 July 2025 |
| Upper Tribunal Judge Jeremy Rintoul | Member | Lord Chief Justice | 1 October 2022 | 30 September 2025 |
| Matt Jackson | Member | Lord Chancellor | 7 November 2023 | 6 November 2026 |
| David Franey | Member | Lord Chief Justice | 7 November 2023 | 6 November 2026 |
| Gillian Fleming | Member | Lord Chief Justice | 10 November 2023 | 9 November 2026 |
| Angela Shields | Member | Lady Chief Justice | 07 March 2024 | 06 March 2027 |
Appointments by the Lord Chancellor are made under the terms of a public appointments code of practice.
Minutes
TPC Guidance
The TPC guidance provides information on the process and procedure involved in making tribunal procedure rule changes. This document may be helpful to stakeholders including the judiciary, civil servant policy officials, and tribunal users.