The Government will start the process of refunding Employment Tribunal fees from today with what the Ministry of Justice describes as the "first stage of the phased implementation scheme".

Up to 1,000 eligible claimants will be contacted in the next 4 weeks and "given the chance" to complete an application before the scheme is rolled out more widely. Full details of how to access the scheme will be made available then.

The Ministry is also setting up a pre-registration scheme for those who have paid Employment Tribunals fees, but have not been invited to take part in the initial stage, so that they can register an interest in applying when the full scheme is rolled out. Claimants can apply for this scheme by email or post although what benefit there is in doing so is not made clear.

Those who have paid fees will be paid interest of 0.5%.

The full text of, what can only be described as the Ministry's remarkably begrudging announcement, can be read here.