First-tier Tribunal for Scotland

The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (FtTfS) is a first-instance general tribunal in Scotland.

It was created by the Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014, which aimed to create a simplified structure for tribunals in Scotland, amalgamating the functions of several tribunals into one.

The Lord President of the Court of Session, as head of the judiciary in Scotland, is responsible for the First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland. Some of the Lord President's functions in relation to tribunals have been delegated to the President of the Scottish Tribunals, currently Lady Wise.

It is administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Chambers and Jurisdiction
The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland currently (as of 2023) consists of six chambers, each with a Chamber President:

Future planned jurisdiction
As of 2023, is planned that the Health and Education chamber will inherit the jurisdictions of the NHS National Appeal Panel for Entry to the Pharmaceutical Lists and the NHS Tribunal for Scotland in the future.

Relation with the UK-wide First-tier Tribunal
The UK-wide First-tier Tribunal exercises many similar functions to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, although the two are entirely separate.

Decisions made by UK Government bodies are only by heard by the UK-wide FTT, for instance benefits awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions, whilst decisions made by Scottish Government bodies are only heard by the FtTfS.

Appeal
Decisions of the various chambers of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland may be made to the Upper Tribunal for Scotland. An appeal may only be made to the with the permission of the FtTfS or the UTfS.