MS, Counsel General and
Minister for Delivery: The President of Welsh Tribunals
published his Sixth Annual Report in August 2025, detailing
the operations, workload and priorities of the Welsh Tribunals
for the financial year 2024-25. As with previous years, through
the annual report the President represents the views of members
of the Welsh Tribunals to the Welsh Ministers and the Senedd. I
therefore laid the report before the Senedd in October last
year.
Unfortunately, given exceptional pressures on Senedd business
this term - including the passage of the Mental Health Review
Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Act 2026 under emergency
procedures - it has not been possible to schedule a Government
led plenary debate on the report before dissolution, as has been
done in previous years. A Written Statement therefore ensures
that the Government's response is placed on the public record
before the end of this current Senedd. I also welcome the
Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee's scrutiny of the
report in December 2025.
Before responding to matters highlighted in the report, I would
firstly, like to reiterate the Welsh Government's appreciation of
the leadership of Sir Gary Hickinbottom as President of Welsh
Tribunals. Sir Gary's commitment to the effective operation of
the devolved justice system and to optimising the performance of
all our tribunals is clear from his report. His pragmatic
approach is central to the effective delivery of justice for the
people of Wales and to maintaining constructive and collaborative
relationships with the Welsh Government.
The President has highlighted a number of key matters in the
report, to which I respond as follows:
Budget
I and my predecessors have had constructive discussions with the
President about the budget for the tribunal service. The
recalibration of tribunal service budget allocations in 2024/25
to reflect pressures on running costs has strengthened financial
management for the current and future financial years. We remain
committed to supporting an effective, efficient and independent
user-focused tribunal service.
Tribunal reform programme
The President's continued support for the tribunal reform agenda
is welcomed. However, I acknowledge his disappointment regarding
the absence of a Tribunals Bill in the current Senedd term. There
was much competition for space in the legislative programme for
the final year of the Senedd, and we have had to make some
difficult choices. We are committed to taking forward tribunal
reform and work on drafting a Bill continues and is well
advanced.
I am confident the support for tribunal reform across the current
Senedd will continue in the next, and that the new Welsh
Government will consider a Bill for introduction.
Judicial training
The President has outlined the challenges to maintaining
arrangements for judicial training for members of the Welsh
Tribunals. Those challenges arise primarily from the relatively
small cohort of tribunal members and the defined remit of the
Judicial College which limits the availability of training for
members of the Welsh Tribunals. I welcome the actions taken by
the President to appoint a Training Lead Judge and to strengthen
the mechanisms for identifying training needs. Engagement with
the Judicial College to explore support for Welsh Tribunals
members is also a positive development, and I note the
President's comments that the College is willing to assist as
much as it can.
Diversity
I note and support the ongoing work to collect and analyse
diversity data on Welsh Tribunals' case panels. This is an
important step towards improving understanding of tribunal
composition and informing any future action.
Welsh Language
I support the continued efforts to increase the use of the Welsh
language in tribunal proceedings, including encouraging bilingual
hearings to facilitate and support tribunal users who wish to use
Welsh.
Finally, although not addressed in the report, I would also like
to acknowledge the collaboration, advice and support of the
President of Welsh Tribunals and the President of the Mental
Health Review Tribunal for Wales during the passage of the Mental
Health Tribunal (Membership) Act 2026. Their leadership and
commitment ensured the continuing operation of that tribunal in
challenging circumstances. I am grateful for the dedication shown
by all members across the Welsh Tribunals to public service and
to the maintenance of access to justice for the people of Wales.
