The Ministry of Justice has published quarterly statistics for all tribunals, including the employment tribunal (ET), for the period January to March 2017. Key findings include:
The number of single ET claims increased by 4%. The total number of multiple claims increased by 7%, however, the number of individual multiple claim cases actually fell by 23%.
The number of single ET claims disposed of fell by 5%, leading to a 10% increase in the caseload of single cases outstanding. The number of multiple claims disposed of fell by 19%. The average time until disposal was 29 weeks for single claims (an increase of one week) and 206 weeks for multiple claims (an increase of 20 weeks). 28% of claims disposed of were conciliated by Acas, 11% were withdrawn and 8% were successful at hearing.
Annual figures from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 show a 1% increase in single claims and an 8% increase in multiple claims compared with the previous year. The disposal of single claims decreased 4% over the year, and the disposal of multiple claims decreased by 11%.
63% of remission applications for issue fees were granted, down from 66%.
63% of ET issue fee requests were paid outright, while 29% were awarded either full or partial remission. 18% of hearing fee requests were paid outright and 15% were awarded full or partial remission.
The total caseload outstanding is 272,032, with 96% of these relating to multiple claims.
The number of ET sitting days has fallen by 15% since 2015/2016. The proportion of sittings by a salaried judge, rather than a fee-paid judge, has increased from 67% in 2013/2014 to 92% in 2016/2017. (In comparison, the average proportion of salaried judicial sittings across all other tribunals within HMCTS is 40%.)
All comparisons are by reference to the same quarter in 2016 (unless otherwise stated).