Welsh government proposes unified tribunals system

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The Welsh government has proposed a new unified and expanded tribunal system: the Appeal Tribunal for Wales. 

Wales’ current system holds a number of devolved tribunals operating under its own legislation. Welsh Tribunals, currently under supervision by the President of Welsh Tribunals, include:

• mental health;
• agriculture; and
• the Welsh language. 

Whereas others, such as school admission and exclusion appeals panels, operate under separate divisions.  

The Commission on Justice in Wales, set up in 2017, recommended that tribunals that determine disputes in civil and administrative law should be unified, while proposing that Cardiff takes full control of justice policy and funding from London. However, the government at Westminster opposed this idea. 

Mick Antoniw, counsel general for Wales and minister for the constitution, outlined two core objectives in reforming the tribunals in Wales. He said: “Firstly, we want to create a modern tribunal system focused on access to justice, with people confident their disputes will be handled justly, efficiently and quickly.” Antoniw argued that the new system would provide a clearer and more coherent system, offering the update that the Welsh justice system clearly needs.

He added: “Secondly, the reforms continue to lay the foundation for a future where justice is devolved, with Wales administering its own wider system of courts and tribunals. We retain the belief that this is the best way to deliver better outcomes for the people of Wales”.