Claim and Response Forms

I have been in correspondence with the Employment Tribunals Service over precisely which Claim and Response Forms are 'prescribed' for use in tribunals. I am receiving dozens of Emails on this topic and I understand the ETS are likewise receiving many similar queries. Hopefully this bulletin will help clear the air.

Has anything been prescribed?
No statutory instrument has been issued - a matter which has caused a lot of queries. However, there is no requirement under the rules for the prescribed forms to be issued by way of Regulation.

The ETS made a formal submission to Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Employment, on 19th September 2005. This contained proposals for exactly what versions of the forms should be used from 1st October 2005.
Gerry Sutcliffe approved the submissions (and thereby prescribed the forms) on 22nd September 2005.

What forms have been prescribed?
The following paper forms have been prescribed:

• the version of the Claim Form which was available from 1 October 2004 (coloured purple);
• OCR compatible versions of the Claim and Response Forms issued in March and September 2005 (coloured aqua);
• Welsh Language versions of the OCR compatible versions issued in September 2005;
• large print versions of the OCR compatible versions issued in September 2005.

In addition, the electronic / pdf versions available from the Employment Tribunals website (submitted either via the website or by Email) are prescribed for use.

Employment Tribunals Service website