Employment Tribunals Act 1996

9 Pre-hearing reviews and preliminary matters. E+W+S

(1) [F1 Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may include provision—

(a) for authorising the carrying-out by an [F1 employment tribunal ]of a preliminary consideration of any proceedings before it (a “pre-hearing review”), and

(b) for enabling such powers to be exercised in connection with a pre-hearing review as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(2) Such regulations may in particular include provision—

(a) for authorising any tribunal carrying out a pre-hearing review under the regulations to make, in circumstances specified in the regulations, an order requiring a party to the proceedings in questionF2 ... to pay a deposit of an amount not exceeding [F3 £1,000] [F4 as a condition of—

(i) continuing to participate in those proceedings, or

(ii) pursuing any specified allegations or arguments], and

(b) for prescribing—

(i) the manner in which the amount of any such deposit is to be determined in any particular case,

(ii) the consequences of non-payment of any such deposit, and

(iii) the circumstances in which any such deposit, or any part of it, may be refunded to the party who paid it or be paid over to another party to the proceedings.

[F5 (2A) Regulations under subsection (1)(b), so far as relating to striking out, may not provide for striking out on a ground which does not apply outside a pre-hearing review.]

(3) The Secretary of State may from time to time by order substitute for the sum specified in subsection (2)(a) such other sum as is specified in the order.

(4) [F1 Employment tribunal] procedure regulations may also include provision for authorising an [F1 employment tribunal] to hear and determine [F6 separately any preliminary issue of a description prescribed by the regulations which is raised by any case].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 9(1)(2)(4) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2)(a) (with s. 16(2)); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F2 Words in s. 9(2)(a) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 21(2)(a), 103(2)

F3 Word in s. 9(2)(a) substituted (15.2.2012) by The Employment Tribunals (Increase of Maximum Deposit) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/149), arts. 1(1), 2

F4 Words in s. 9(2)(a) inserted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 21(2)(b), 103(2)

F5 S. 9(2A) inserted (9.7.2004) by 2002 c. 22, ss. 28(3), 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(1)

F6 Words in s. 9(4) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 15, Sch. 1 para. 15; S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 9 extended (24.4.2000) by 1992 c. 52, s. 239(4)(c) (as inserted (24.4.2000) by 1999 c. 26, s. 16, Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 2000/875, art. 2 (subject to transitional provision in art. 3))