Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which delays in the employment tribunal system may deter workers from pursuing legitimate employment claims.

We recognise the significant pressures facing the Employment Tribunal and are taking action to increase capacity and reduce waiting times. The Government has not made a specific assessment of the extent to which delays in the Employment Tribunal system deter workers from pursuing legitimate employment claims. However, we recognise the importance of individuals being 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 regions are currently listing one and two-day hearings in 2026 although waiting times for longer hearings vary across the country, with some regions listing into 2028 and 2029.

The Employment Tribunal has been funded for 32,590 sitting days in 2026/27, including through a virtual region that enables remote hearings to be listed without geographical restriction. Following the most recent recruitment exercise, 34 salaried Employment Judges will begin sitting from September 2026, and recruitment is underway for a further 55 salaried Employment Judges who will add capacity from summer 2027.