Policy paper

2010 to 2015 government policy: administrative justice reform

Updated 8 May 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Applies to England and Wales

This is a copy of a document that stated a policy of the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government. The previous URL of this page was https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-the-administrative-justice-and-tribunals-system-more-effective Current policies can be found at the GOV.UK policies list.

Issue

Government departments make decisions that can affect aspects of people’s everyday lives like school admissions, benefit payments and asylum applications. Administrative justice lets people challenge these decisions.

Many departments try to resolve cases through their appeal processes. However, if a person is still not happy with the outcome of the appeal they can take their case to a tribunal.

Most tribunals deal with challenges by individuals about decisions made by government departments, agencies or local authorities. Some tribunals, though, deal with cases between individuals – for example, employment or property tribunals.

We want the administrative justice system to deal with every case in the most appropriate way. We are working with other government departments to improve their initial decision making so people don’t have to go to a tribunal.

Only when people can’t resolve their cases through mediation or a review of the initial decision (sometimes called reconsideration) should they go to a tribunal.

Actions

Getting it right first time

We are working:

• with other government departments to improve initial decision making so that people get the right decision first time
• to reduce the number of claimants who have to take their case through sometimes lengthy and stressful tribunal appeals

Enhancing the fairness and efficiency of tribunals

We are:

• piloting a range of mediation and alternative dispute resolution approaches so that people get a decision as quickly as possible
• ensuring that tribunals remain available for cases where mediation has not worked or isn’t possible

Putting users first

We are:

• listening to feedback from users so that tribunal reforms reflect their needs
• improving the guidance we give to people, especially those with special needs, so that they are better able to navigate the system
• working with ombudsmen and other organisations to improve their guidance and information

Identifying new appeal rights and working with government departments

We are:

• working with other government departments on new appeal rights
• identifying where we need to establish new tribunal subject areas
• ensuring tribunals not run by the Ministry of Justice are accessible, efficient and fair
• explaining to other government departments the impact their policy objectives have on administrative justice

Background

In December 2012, we published the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Strategic Work Programme.

It sets out the government’s plans for the reform of the administrative justice and tribunals system to make it fairer and more efficient with the rights of users at its centre.

We have set up the Administrative Justice Forum which includes representatives from a range of bodies active in the administrative justice system, including organisations representing tribunal users.