Question to the Ministry of Justice:

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.

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.