Catalogue description Records of the Council on Tribunals and Successors

The Council on Tribunals, with its Scottish Committee, was established under the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1958. It was set up following the recommendations of the Committee on Administrative Tribunals and Enquiries which reported in 1957 (Cmd 218, 1957).

The Council is required to keep under review the constitution and working of the various tribunals placed under its general supervision and to report on particular matters relating to any tribunals which may be referred to it by the Lord Chancellor and Lord Advocate (the Secretary of State for Scotland before 1973) who jointly appoint its members. The Council is also required to report on any matters relating to statutory inquiries which may be similarly referred to it or which the Council itself determines to be of special importance. In addition, the Council must be consulted both about rules of procedure for statutory inquiries and before rules are made for any of the tribunals under its general supervision. It also considers complaints from any person or organisation and may make recommendations about appointments to membership of the tribunals for which it is responsible.

The Scottish Committee of the Council considers Scottish tribunals and matters relating only to Scotland. The parliamentary commissioner for administration is ex officio a member both of the Council and the Scottish Committee.

In 2007, the Council on Tribunals was replaced by the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (AJTC) which was established by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. The AJTC’s purpose is to help make administrative justice and tribunals increasingly accessible, fair and effective by: playing a pivotal role in the development of coherent principles and good practice; promoting understanding, learning and continuous improvement; and ensuring that the needs of users are central.