The Labour Relations Agency (Flexible Working) Arbitration Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

Made: 2nd May 2006

Coming into operation: 21st May 2006

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Citation, commencement and interpretation

1

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Commencement of the Scheme

2

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Application of Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996

3

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4

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SCHEDULE — THE LABOUR RELATIONS AGENCY (FLEXIBLE WORKING) ARBITRATION SCHEME

		Paragraphs
I.	INTRODUCTION	p1-4
II.	THE ROLE OF THE LRARouting of communications	p5p6-7
III.	TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS	p8-12
IV.	ARBITRATOR'S TERMS OF REFERENCE	p13
V.	SCOPE OF THE SCHEME
	Cases that are covered by the SchemeWaiver of jurisdictional issuesInappropriate cases	p14-16p17-18p19
VI.	ACCESS TO THE SCHEME	p20
	Requirements for entry into the Scheme	p21-23
	Notification to the LRA of an Arbitration Agreement	p24-27
	Consolidation of proceedings	p28
VII.	SETTLEMENT AND WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SCHEME
	Withdrawal by the Employee	p29
	Withdrawal by the Employer	p30
	Settlement	p31-34
VIII.	APPOINTMENT OF ARBITRATORS
	The LRA Arbitration Panel	p35
	Appointment to a case	p36-37
	Arbitrator’s duty of disclosure	p38-39
	Removal of an arbitrator	p40-44
	Death of an arbitrator	p45
	Replacement of an arbitrator	p46-47
IX.	GENERAL DUTY OF THE ARBITRATOR	p48-49
X.	GENERAL DUTY OF THE PARTIES	p50
XI.	CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY	p51-52
XII.	ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HEARING
	Initial arrangements	p53-56
	Expedited hearings	p57
	Venue	p58-59
	Assistance	p60
	Travelling expenses/loss of earnings	p61-62
	Applications for postponements of initial hearings	p63-65
XIII.	NON-COMPLIANCE WITH PROCEDURE	p66
XIV.	OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE BEFORE THE HEARING	p67
	Written materials	68-73
	Submissions, evidence and witnesses not previously notified	p74-75
	Requests for documents	p76
	Requests for attendance of witnesses	p77
	Preliminary hearings and directions	p78-79
XV.	OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE AT THE HEARING
	Arbitrator’s overall discretion	p80
	Administration	p81
	Witnesses	p82
	Examination by the arbitrator	p83
	Representatives	p84
	Strict rules of evidence	p85
	Non-attendance at the hearing	p86-87
	Post-hearing written materials	p88
XVI.	QUESTIONS OF EC LAW AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998
	Appointment of legal adviser	p89-92
	Court determination of preliminary points	p93
XVII.	AWARDS
	Form of the award	p94-95
	Remedies	p96
XVIII.	AWARDS OF COMPENSATION	p97-99
XIX.	ISSUE OF AWARDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY	p100-101
XX.	CORRECTION OF AWARDS
	Scrutiny of awards by the LRA	p102
	Correction by the arbitrator	p103-108
XXI.	EFFECT OF AWARDS, ENFORCEMENT AND INTEREST
	Effect of awards	p109-110
	Enforcement	p111
	Interest	p112
XXII.	CHALLENGING THE AWARD
	Challenges on grounds of substantive jurisdiction	p113
	Challenges for serious irregularity	p114
	Appeals on questions of EC law and the Human Rights Act 1998	p115
	Time limits and other procedural restrictions on challenges to awards	p116
	Common law challenges and saving	p117
	Challenge or appeal: effect of order of the court	p118
XXIII.	LOSS OF RIGHT TO OBJECT	p119
XXIV.	IMMUNITY	p120-121
XXV.	MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
	Requirements in connection with legal proceedings	p122
	Service of documents and notices on the LRA	p123-124
	Service of documents or notices on any other person or entity (other than the LRA)	p125-127
	Powers of court in relation to service of documents	p128
	Reckoning periods of time	p129
XXVI.	TERRITORIAL OPERATION OF THE SCHEME	p130
	Territorial application	p130
	APPENDIX A: WAIVER OF RIGHTS

I INTRODUCTION

1

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2

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3

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4

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II THE ROLE OF THE LRA

5

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Routing of communications

6

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7

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III TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

8

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9

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10

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11

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12

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IV ARBITRATOR'S TERMS OF REFERENCE

13

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V SCOPE OF THE SCHEME

Cases that are covered by the Scheme

14

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15

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16

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Waiver of jurisdictional issues

17

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18

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Inappropriate cases

19

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VI ACCESS TO THE SCHEME

20

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Requirements for entry into the Scheme

21

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22

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23

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Notification to the LRA of an Arbitration Agreement

24

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25

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26

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27

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Consolidation of proceedings

28

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VII SETTLEMENT AND WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SCHEME

Withdrawal by the Employee

29

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Withdrawal by the Employer

30

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Settlement

31

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32

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33

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34

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VIII APPOINTMENT OF ARBITRATORS

The LRA Arbitration Panel

35

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Appointment to a case

36

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37

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Arbitrator’s duty of disclosure

38

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39

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Removal of an arbitrator

40

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41

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42

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43

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44

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Death of an arbitrator

45

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Replacement of an arbitrator

46

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47

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IX GENERAL DUTY OF THE ARBITRATOR

48

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49

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X GENERAL DUTY OF THE PARTIES

50

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XI CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY

51

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52

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XII ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HEARING

Initial arrangements

53

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54

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55

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56

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Expedited hearings

57

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Venue

58

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59

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Assistance

60

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Travelling expenses/loss of earnings

61

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62

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Applications for postponements of initial hearings

63

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64

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65

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XIII NON-COMPLIANCE WITH PROCEDURE

66

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XIV OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE BEFORE THE HEARING

67

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Written materials

68

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69

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70

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71

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72

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73

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Submissions, evidence and witnesses not previously notified

74

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75

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Requests for documents

76

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Requests for attendance of witnesses

77

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Preliminary hearings and directions

78

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79

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XV OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE AT THE HEARING

Arbitrator’s overall discretion

80

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Administration

81

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Witnesses

82

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Examination by the arbitrator

83

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Representatives

84

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Strict rules of evidence

85

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Non-attendance at the hearing

86

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87

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Post-hearing written materials

88

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XVI QUESTIONS OF EC LAW AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998

Appointment of legal adviser

89

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90

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91

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92

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Court determination of preliminary points

93

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XVII. AWARDS

Form of the award

94

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95

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Remedies

96

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XVIII AWARDS OF COMPENSATION

97

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98

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99

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XIX ISSUE OF AWARDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

100

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101

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XX CORRECTION OF AWARDS

Scrutiny of awards by the LRA

102

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Correction by the arbitrator

103

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104

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105

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106

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107

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108

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XXI EFFECT OF AWARDS, ENFORCEMENT AND INTEREST

Effect of awards

109

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110

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Enforcement

111

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Interest

112

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XXII CHALLENGING THE AWARD

Challenges on grounds of substantive jurisdiction

113

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Challenges for serious irregularity

114

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Appeals on questions of EC law and the Human Rights Act 1998

115

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Time limits and other procedural restrictions on challenges to awards

116

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Common law challenges and saving

117

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Challenge or appeal: effect of order of the court

118

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XXIII LOSS OF RIGHT TO OBJECT

119

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XXIV IMMUNITY

120

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121

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XXV MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Requirements in connection with legal proceedings

122

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Service of documents and notices on the LRA

123

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124

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Service of documents or notices on any other person or entity (other than the LRA)

125

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126

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127

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Powers of court in relation to service of documents

128

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Reckoning periods of time

129

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XXVI TERRITORIAL OPERATION OF THE SCHEME

Territorial application

130

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Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Employment and Learning on 2nd May 2006.

D. S. S. McAuley — A senior officer of the — Department for Employment and Learning

Explanatory note

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Footnotes

[^f00001]: S.I. 1992/807 (N.I. 5); Article 84A was inserted by Article 8 of the Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1265 (N.I. 8)) and amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2836 (N.I. 2))

[^f00002]: S.I. 1996/1919 (N.I. 16); Articles 112G and 112H were inserted by Article 15 of the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2836 (N.I. 2))

[^f00003]: Formerly the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment; see 2001 c. 15 (N.I.)

[^f00004]: See S.R. 1999 No. 481 Departments (Transfer and Assignment of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999

[^f00005]: 1996 c. 23

[^f00006]: S.I. 1992/807 (N.I. 5); Article 84A was inserted by Article 8 of the Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1265 (N.I. 8)) and amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2836 (N.I. 2))

[^f00007]: S.I. 1996/1919 (N.I. 16); Article 112F was inserted by Article 15 of the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2836 (N.I. 2))

[^f00008]: S.I. 1996/1919 (N.I. 16); Articles 112G and 112H were inserted by Article 15 of the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2836 (N.I. 2))

[^f00009]: S.R. 2003 No. 173

[^f00010]: S.I. 1996/1921 (N.I. 18); Article 20 was amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2836 (N.I. 2))

[^f00011]: 1996 c. 23; Sections 24(1)(a) and (c), (2), (3), (5) and (6) of the Arbitration Act 1996 provide as follows: – A party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties, to the arbitrator concerned and to any other arbitrator) apply to the court to remove an arbitrator on any of the following grounds– that circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality; that he is physically or mentally incapable of conducting the proceedings or there are justifiable doubts as to his capacity to do so; If there is an arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with power to remove an arbitrator, the court shall not exercise its power of removal unless satisfied that the applicant has first exhausted any available recourse to that institution or person. The arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award while an application to the court under this section is pending. The arbitrator concerned is entitled to appear and be heard by the court before it makes any order under this section. The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

[^f00012]: 1996 c. 23; Section 45 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court may on the application of a party to arbitral proceedings (upon notice to the other parties) determine any question of law arising in the course of the proceedings which the court is satisfied substantially affects the rights of one or more of the parties. An agreement to dispense with reasons for the tribunal’s award shall be considered an agreement to exclude the court’s jurisdiction under this section. An application under this section shall not be considered unless– it is made with the agreement of all the other parties to the proceedings, or it is made with the permission of the tribunal and the court is satisfied– that the determination of the question is likely to produce substantial savings in costs, and that the application was made without delay. The application shall identify the question of law to be determined and, unless made with the agreement of all the other parties to the proceedings, shall state the grounds on which it is said that the question should be decided by the court. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award while an application to the court under this section is pending. Unless the court gives leave, no appeal lies from a decision of the court whether the conditions specified in subsection (2) are met. The decision of the court on the question of law shall be treated as a judgment of the court for the purposes of an appeal. But no appeal lies without the leave of the court which shall not be given unless the court considers that the question is one of general importance, or is one which for some other special reason should be considered by the Court of Appeal.

[^f00013]: S.R. 2003 No. 173

[^f00014]: 1996 c. 23; Section 66 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – An award made by the tribunal pursuant to an arbitration agreement may, by leave of the court, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order of the court to the same effect. Where leave is so given, judgment may be enforced in terms of the award. Leave to enforce an award shall not be given where, or to the extent that, the person against whom it is sought to be enforced shows that the tribunal lacked substantive jurisdiction to make the award. The right to raise such an objection may have been lost (see section 73). Nothing in this section affects the recognition or enforcement of an award under any other enactment or rule of law, in particular under Part II of the Arbitration Act 1950 (enforcement of awards under Geneva Convention) or the provisions of Part III of this Act relating to the recognition and enforcement of awards under the New York Convention or by an action on the award.

[^f00015]: 1996 c. 23; Section 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – A party to the arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) apply to the court– challenging any award of the arbitral tribunal as to its substantive jurisdiction; or for an order declaring an award made by the tribunal on the merits to be of no effect, in whole or in part, because the tribunal did not have substantive jurisdiction. A party may lose the right to object (see section 73) and the right to apply is subject to the restrictions in section 70(2) and (3). The arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make a further award while an application to the court under this section is pending in relation to an award as to jurisdiction. On an application under this section challenging an award of the arbitral tribunal as to its substantive jurisdiction, the court may by order– confirm the award, vary the award, or set aside the award in whole or in part. The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

[^f00016]: 1996 c. 23; Section 68 of the Arbitration Act provides as follows: – A party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) apply to the court challenging an award in the proceedings on the ground of serious irregularity affecting the tribunal, the proceedings or the award. A party may lose the right to object (see section 73) and the right to apply is subject to the restrictions in section 70(2) and (3). Serious irregularity means an irregularity of one or more of the following kinds which the court considers has caused or will cause substantial injustice to the applicant– failure by the tribunal to comply with section 33 (general duty of tribunal); the tribunal exceeding its powers (otherwise than by exceeding its substantive jurisdiction: see section 67); failure by the tribunal to conduct the proceedings in accordance with the procedure agreed by the parties; failure by the tribunal to deal with all the issues that were put to it; any arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with powers in relation to the proceedings or the award exceeding its powers; uncertainty or ambiguity as to the effect of the award; the award being obtained by fraud or the award or the way in which it was procured being contrary to public policy; failure to comply with the requirement as to the form of the award; or any irregularity in the conduct of the proceedings or in the award which is admitted by the tribunal or by any arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with powers in relation to the proceedings or the award. If there is shown to be serious irregularity affecting the tribunal, the proceedings or the award, the court may– remit the award to the tribunal, in whole or in part, for reconsideration, set the award aside in whole or in part, or declare the award to be of no effect, in whole or in part. The court shall not exercise its power to set aside or to declare an award to be of no effect, in whole or in part, unless it is satisfied that it would be inappropriate to remit the matters in question to the tribunal for reconsideration. The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

[^f00017]: 1996 c. 23; Section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, a party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) appeal to the court on a question of law arising out of an award made in the proceedings. An agreement to dispense with reasons for the tribunal’s award shall be considered an agreement to exclude the court’s jurisdiction under this section. An appeal shall not be brought under this section except– with the agreement of all the other parties to the proceedings, or with the leave of the court. The right to appeal is also subject to the restrictions in section 70(2) and (3). Leave to appeal shall be given only if the court is satisfied– that the determination of the question will substantially affect the rights of one or more of the parties, that the question is one which the tribunal was asked to determine, that, on the basis of the findings of fact in the award– the decision of the tribunal on the question is obviously wrong, or the question is one of general public importance and the decision of the tribunal is at least open to serious doubt, and that, despite the agreement of the parties to resolve the matter by arbitration, it is just and proper in all the circumstances for the court to determine the question. An application for leave to appeal under this section shall identify the question of law to be determined and state the grounds on which it is alleged that leave to appeal should be granted. The court shall determine an application for leave to appeal under this section without a hearing unless it appears to the court that a hearing is required. The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section to grant or refuse leave to appeal. On an appeal under this section the court may by order– confirm the award, vary the award, remit the award to the tribunal, in whole or in part, for reconsideration in the light of the court’s determination, or set aside the award in whole or in part. The court shall not exercise its power to set aside an award, in whole or in part, unless it is satisfied that it would be inappropriate to remit the matters in question to the tribunal for reconsideration. The decision of the court on an appeal under this section shall be treated as a judgment of the court for the purposes of a further appeal. But no such appeal lies without the leave of the court which shall not be given unless the court considers that the question is one of general importance or is one which for some other special reason should be considered by the Court of Appeal.

[^f00018]: 1996 c. 23; Section 70 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – The following provisions apply to an application or appeal under section 67, 68 or 69. An application or appeal may not be brought if the applicant or appellant has not first exhausted– any available arbitral process of appeal or review, and any available recourse under section 57 (correction of award or additional award). Any application or appeal must be brought within 28 days of the date of the award or, if there has been any arbitral process of appeal or review, of the date when the applicant or appellant was notified of the result of that process. If on an application or appeal it appears to the court that the award– does not contain the tribunal’s reasons, or does not set out the tribunal’s reasons in sufficient detail to enable the court properly to consider the application or appeal, the court may order the tribunal to state the reasons for its award in sufficient detail for that purpose. Where the court makes an order under subsection (4), it may make such further order as it thinks fit with respect to any additional costs of the arbitration resulting from its order. The court may order the applicant or appellant to provide security for the costs of the application or appeal, and may direct that the application or appeal be dismissed if the order is not complied with. The power to order security for costs shall not be exercised on the ground that the applicant or appellant is– an individual ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom, or a corporation or association incorporated or formed under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom, or whose central management and control is exercised outside the United Kingdom. The court may order that any money payable under the award shall be brought into court or otherwise secured pending the determination of the application or appeal, and may direct that the application or appeal be dismissed if the order is not complied with. The court may grant leave to appeal subject to conditions to the same or similar effect as an order under subsection (6) or (7). This does not affect the general discretion of the court to grant leave subject to conditions.

[^f00019]: 1996 c. 23; Sections 81(1)(c) and 81(2) of the Arbitration Act 1996 provide as follows: – Nothing in this Part shall be construed as excluding the operation of any rule of law consistent with the provisions of this Part, in particular, any rule of law as to– the refusal of recognition or enforcement of an arbitral award on grounds of public policy. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as reviving any jurisdiction of the court to set aside or remit an award on the ground of errors of fact or law on the face of the award.

[^f00020]: 1996 c. 23; Section 71 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – The following provisions have effect where the court makes an order under section 67, 68 or 69 with respect to an award. Where the award is varied, the variation has effect as part of the tribunal’s award. Where the award is remitted to the tribunal, in whole or in part, for reconsideration, the tribunal shall make a fresh award in respect of the matters remitted within three months of the date of the order for remission or such longer or shorter period as the court may direct. Where the award is set aside or declared to be of no effect, in whole or in part, the court may also order that any provision that an award is a condition precedent to the bringing of legal proceedings in respect of a matter to which the arbitration agreement applies, is of no effect as regards the subject matter of the award or, as the case may be, the relevant part of the award.

[^f00021]: 1996 c. 23; Sections 80(1), (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of the Arbitration Act 1996 provide as follows: – References in this Part to an application, appeal or other step in relation to legal proceedings being taken “upon notice”to the other parties to the arbitral proceedings, or to the tribunal, are to such notice of the originating process as is required by rules of court and do not impose any separate requirement. Rules of court shall be made– requiring such notice to be given as indicated by any provision of this Part, and as to the manner, form and content of any such notice. References in this Part to making an application or appeal to the court within a specified period are to the issue within that period of the appropriate originating process in accordance with rules of court. Where any provision of this Part requires an application or appeal to be made to the court within a specified time, the rules of court relating to the reckoning of periods, the extending or abridging of periods, and the consequences of not taking a step within the period prescribed by the rules, apply in relation to that requirement. Provision may be made by rules of court amending the provisions of this Part– with respect to the time within which any application or appeal to the court must be made, so as to keep any provision made by this Part in relation to arbitral proceedings in step with the corresponding provision of rules of court applying in relation to proceedings in the court, or so as to keep any provision made by this Part in relation to legal proceedings in step with the corresponding provision of rules of court applying generally in relation to proceedings in the court. Nothing in this section affects the generality of the power to make rules of court.

[^f00022]: 1996 c. 23; Section 77 of the Arbitration Act 1996 provides as follows: – This section applies where service of a document on a person in the manner agreed by the parties, or in accordance with provisions of section 76 having effect in default of agreement, is not reasonably practicable. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court may make such order as it thinks fit– for service in such manner as the court may direct, or dispensing with service of the document. Any party to the arbitration agreement may apply for an order, but only after exhausting any available arbitral process for resolving the matter. The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

[^f00023]: 1996 c. 23; Sections 78(2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Arbitration Act 1996 provide as follows: – If or to the extent there is no such agreement, periods of time shall be reckoned in accordance with the following provisions. Where the act is required to be done within a specified period after or from a specified date, the period begins immediately after that date. Where the act is required to be done a specified number of clear days after a specified date, at least that number of days must intervene between the day on which the act is done and that date. Where the period is a period of seven days or less which would include a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday in the place where anything which has to be done within the period falls to be done, that day shall be excluded. In relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, a “public holiday” means Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 is a bank holiday.

Editorial notes

[^key-f0422c1d5536b2ba75c1932de73630d4]: Order revoked (27.9.2012) by The Labour Relations Agency Arbitration Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/301), arts. 1, 3(1) (with art. 3(3))