Policy background Employment Tribunals
ETs were established under the responsibility of the Department for Trade and Industry (now Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)) by the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (ETA), which also made provision about the Employment Appeal Tribunal (originally established under the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor by the Employment Protection Act 1975).
	Following the transfer of the ETs and the EAT to the Tribunal Service (now Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service) in 2006, BEIS has retained responsibility for the rules and governance of ETs as well as the overarching policy framework for ETs and the EAT. Responsibility for making changes to the regulations which determine procedural matters within ETs continues to rest with BEIS ministers who make changes to regulations to address specific policy issues, including those that may be raised in consultation with stakeholders.
	ETs are the only area of tribunal business where control over procedure rests with a Government minister in another department. This contrasts with all other matters heard in the justice system where procedural rules are the responsibility of independent judicial-led committees or of the Lord Chief Justice.