Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposal to amend the Tribunal Procedure (First-Tier Tribunal) (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) Rules 2008, published by the Tribunal Procedure Committee in March 2018, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that consultation is accessible for people in need of additional support to communicate and express their views.

The Tribunal Procedure Committee’s consultation is available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-to-amend-the-tribunal-procedure-first-tier-tribunal-health-education-and-social-care-chamber-rules-2008

When it was published, the consultation was sent to key mental health organisations including MIND, Rethink, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Mental Health Foundation and Mental Health UK so they could consider the proposals and reflect the experience of those with experience of mental health problems.

The Ministry of Justice has not carried out an Impact Assessment but awaits the outcome of the Committee’s consultation. If the Committee decides to make any changes to the rules, the Lord Chancellor will consider the potential impact of those changes before deciding whether to allow the proposed changes to be implemented.