Employment Tribunals Act 1996, section 20

The Appeal Tribunal

Part II The Employment Appeal Tribunal

(1) The Employment Appeal Tribunal (“the Appeal Tribunal") shall continue in existence.

(2)The Appeal Tribunal shall have a central office in London but may sit at any time and in any place in Great Britain.

(3)The Appeal Tribunal shall be a superior court of record and shall have an official seal which shall be judicially noticed.

[F218 (4)Subsection (2) is subject to regulation 34 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations [F219 1999,F219] [F220 regulation 46(1) of the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations [F221 2004,F221,F220]] [F222 regulation 36(1) of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations [F223 2004,F223,F222]] [F224 regulation 37(1) of the European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations [F225 2006,F225,F224]] [F226 regulation 58(1) of the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007F226] [F227 and regulation 33(1) of the European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009(S.I. 2009/2401)F227] .F218]

Definitions used in section 20 3

employment

“employment” means employment under a contract of employment and “employed” shall be construed accordingly,

Defined in s.42(1) · see it in the full Act
the Appeal Tribunal

“the Appeal Tribunal” means the Employment Appeal Tribunal,

Defined in s.42(1) · see it in the full Act
employee

“employee” means an individual who has entered into or works under (or, where the employment has ceased, worked under) a contract of employment,

Defined in s.42(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 20 4

Jackson v Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

[2012] UKEAT 1247_10_1104 · 11 April 2012

Section 20 deprived the EAT of jurisdiction where no point of law was found. The appeals disclosed no reasonable grounds and were dismissed. (see paras [1]; [18])

Shirley Ridley v HB Kirtley t/a Queen's Court Business Centre & Ors

[2024] EWCA Civ 884 · 25 July 2024Defines

Confirms the continued existence of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (see para [8]). Defines the Employment Appeal Tribunal as a superior court of record (see para [8]).

H Lau v Dragon Cat Ltd t/a Dragon Cat Cafe & Ors

[2026] EAT 65 · 30 April 2026

Section 20 establishes the EAT as a superior court of record. The court relied on that status in explaining why legal questions raised on appeal should be considered carefully. (see para [26])

1 more judgment, and what each says about section 20, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

10 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F218S. 20(4) inserted (15.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3323, reg. 35(2)
  2. F219Words in s. 20(4) substituted (6. 4 2005) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), reg. 36(2)(a) (with reg. 3)
  3. F220Words in s. 20(4) inserted (8.10.2004) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2326), reg. 48(2)
  4. F221Words in s. 20(4) substituted (18.8.2006) by The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 37(2)(a)
  5. F222Words in s. 20(4) inserted (6. 4 2005) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), reg. 36(2)(b) (with reg. 3)
  6. F223Words in s. 20(4) substituted (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2974), reg. 58(2)(a)
  7. F224Words in s. 20(4) substituted (18.8.2006) by The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 37(2)(b)
  8. F225Words in s. 20(4) substituted (1.10.2009) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401), regs. 1(2), 35(2)(a) (with regs. 4, 41)
  9. F226Words in s. 20(4) substituted (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2974), reg. 58(2)(b)
  10. F227Words in s. 20(4) inserted (1.10.2009) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401), regs. 1(2), 35(2)(b) (with regs. 4, 41)