Section 21 Jurisdiction of Appeal Tribunal.

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

An appeal lies to the Appeal Tribunal on any question of law arising from any decision of, or arising in any proceedings before, an F1employment tribunal under or by virtue of—

F2(a)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)

M1 the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992,

F3(e)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f)

M2 the Employment Rights Act 1996 F4F5. . .

(fg)

F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(F7g)

this Act,

(ga)

the National Minimum Wage Act 1998,

(gb)

the Employment Relations Act 1999,

F8(gc)

the Equality Act 2006,

F9(gd)

the Pensions Act 2008,

F10(ge)

the Equality Act 2010,

F11(gf)

Part 5 of the Employment Rights Act 2025,

F12(h)

the Working Time Regulations 1998, F13. . .

(i)

the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999F14F15. . .

(j)

the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000F16F17. . .

(k)

the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002F18F19. . .

(l)

F20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F21(m)

F22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F23(n)

the Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003F24F25. . .

(o)

the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004

(F26F27p)

the Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004F28F29. . .

(q)

the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004F30, F31. . .

(r)

the Schedule to the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006F32F33. . .

(s)

F34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F35(t)

the European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 F36...

F37(u)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F38(v)

the Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008F39, F40...

(w)

the European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009(S.I. 2009/2401).F41, F42...

(x)

the Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010.F43, F44...

(y)

the Agency Workers Regulations 2010. F45, or

F46(z)

the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58).

(2)

No appeal shall lie except to the Appeal Tribunal from any decision of an employment tribunal under or by virtue of the Acts listed F47or the Regulations referred to in subsection (1).

(3)

Subsection (1) does not affect any provision contained in, or made under, any Act which provides for an appeal to lie to the Appeal Tribunal (whether from an employment tribunal, the Certification Officer or any other person or body) otherwise than on a question to which that subsection applies.

F48(4)

The Appeal Tribunal also has any jurisdiction in respect of matters other than appeals which is conferred on it by or under—

(a)

the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992,

(b)

this Act, or

(c)

any other Act.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 21 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: S. 21(1)(a)(b)(c) repealed by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 32(a), Sch. 27 Pt 1 (as amended) (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5, Sch. 2 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2)
F3: S. 21(1)(e) repealed by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 32(a), Sch. 27 Pt 1 (as amended) (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5, Sch. 2 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2)
F4: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(f) repealed (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 39, s. 53, Sch. 3 (with s. 36); S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F5: S. 21(1)(g) and word “or" immediately preceding inserted (retrospectively) by 1998 c. 8, ss. 15, 17(3), Sch. 1 para. 17(1)(2)
F6: S. 21(1)(fg) inserted (5.10.1999) by 1999 c. 10, ss. 7, 19(4), 20(2), Sch. 3 para. 5, Sch. 6 and repealed (6.4.2003) by 2002 c. 21, ss. 60, 61, Sch. 6; S.I. 2003/962, art. 2(3)(e), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3, 4)
F7: S. 21(1)(g)(ga)(gb) substituted (1.10.2004) for s. 21(1)(ff)(g) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 38, 59; S.I. 2004/2566, art. 3(a)
F8: S. 21(1)(gc) inserted (30.4.2007) by Equality Act 2006 (c. 3), ss. 40, 93, Sch. 3 para. 57; S.I. 2007/1092, art. 2(e)
F9: S. 21(1)(gd) inserted (30.6.2012) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), ss. 59, 149(1); S.I. 2012/1682, art. 2, Sch. 2
F10: S. 21(1)(ge) inserted by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 32(b) (as amended) (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2)
F11: S. 21(1)(gf) inserted (7.4.2026) by Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 68(4) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(c)
F12: S. 21(1)(h)(i) substituted (15.1.2000) for words at the end of subsection (1) by S.I. 1999/3323, reg. 35(3)
F13: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(h) omitted (1.7.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/1551, reg. 10, Sch. para. 1(b)(i)
F14: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(i) omitted (1.10.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/2034, reg. 11 Sch. 2 para. 2(b)(i)
F15: S. 21(1)(j) and word “or" immediately preceding it inserted (1.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/1551, reg. 10, Sch. para. 1(b)(ii)
F16: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(j) omitted (1.12.2003) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1661), reg. 39, Sch. 5 para. 1(b)(i)
F17: S. 21(1)(k) inserted (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2034, reg. 11 Sch. 2 para. 2(b)(ii)
F18: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(k) omitted (2.12.2003) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1660), reg. 39(2), Sch. 5 para. 1(b)(i)
F19: S. 21(1)(l) and preceding word inserted (1.12.2003) by The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1661), reg. 39, Sch. 5 para. 1(b)(ii)
F20: S. 21(1)(l) repealed by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 32(a), Sch. 27 Pt 1 (as amended) (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5, Sch. 2 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2)
F21: S. 21(1)(m) and preceding word inserted (2.12.2003) by The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1660), reg. 39(2), Sch. 5 para. 1(b)(ii)
F22: S. 21(1)(m) repealed by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 32(a), Sch. 27 Pt 1 (as amended) (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5, Sch. 2 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2)
F23: S. 21(1)(n) inserted (24.12.2003) by The Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3049), reg. 20, Sch. 2 para. 2(3)
F24: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(n) repealed (6.4.2005) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), reg. 37(a) (with reg. 3)
F25: S. 21(1)(o) and preceding word inserted (8.10.2004) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2326), reg. 49
F26: S. 21(1)(o) inserted (16.8.2004) by The Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1713), reg. 22, Sch. 2 para.1(3)
F27: S. 21(1)(o) renumbered (6.4.2005) as s. 21(1)(p) by virtue of The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), reg. 37(b) (with reg. 3)
F28: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(p) omitted (6.4.2006) by virtue of The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/349), reg. 17, Sch. para. 10(a) (with reg. 3)
F29: S. 21(1)(q) and preceding word inserted (6.4.2004) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), reg. 37(c) (with reg. 3)
F30: S. 21(1)(r) and preceding word inserted (6.4.2006) by The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/349), reg. 17, Sch. para. 10(b) (with reg. 3)
F31: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(q) omitted (1.10.2006) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1031), reg. 49(1), Sch. 8 para. 20(2) (with reg. 44)
F32: Word at the end of s. 21(1)(r) omitted (18.8.2006) by virtue of The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 38(a)
F33: S. 21(1)(s) and preceding word inserted (1.10.2006) by The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1031), reg. 49(1), Sch. 8 para. 20(3) (with reg. 44)
F34: S. 21(1)(s) repealed by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 32(a), Sch. 27 Pt 1 (as amended) (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5, Sch. 2 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2)
F35: S. 21(1)(t) and preceding word inserted (18.8.2006) by The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 38(b)
F36: Word in s. 21(1)(t) omitted (27.7.2008) by virtue of The Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1660), reg. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 1(b)(i)
F37: S. 21(1)(u) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Partnerships (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/348), reg. 2, Sch. 3 para. 4; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F38: S. 21(1)(v) and word inserted (27.7.2008) by The Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1660), reg. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 1(b)(ii)
F39: S. 21(1)(w) and word inserted (1.10.2009) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401), regs. 1(2), 36 (with regs. 4, 41)
F40: Word in s. 21(1)(v) omitted (2.3.2010) by virtue of The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/493), regs. 1(b), 17(5)(a)
F41: S. 21(1)(x) and word inserted (2.3.2010) by The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/493), regs. 1(b), 17(5)(b)
F42: Word in s. 21(1)(w) omitted (1.10.2011) by virtue of The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(b)(i)
F43: S. 21(1)(y) and word inserted (1.10.2011) by The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(b)(ii)
F44: Word in s. 21(1)(x) omitted (17.3.2014) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/308), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 1(3)(a)
F45: Word in s. 21(1)(y) inserted (17.3.2014) by The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/308), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 1(3)(b)
F46: S. 21(1)(z) substituted (6.4.2018) by The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 1(b) (with regs. 3, 4)
F47: Words in s. 21(2) inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 34(b)
F48: S. 21(4) inserted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 15, Sch. 1 para. 17(3); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Marginal citations

M1: 1992 c.52
M2: 1996 c.18

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1: The Industrial Tribunals Act 1996 may be cited as the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (1.8.1998) by virtue of 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2) (with s. 16(2)); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F2: Words in long title substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2)(b) (with s. 16(2); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1