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UK Law Reference
All sections of Employment Rights Act 1996
1996 c. 18, s.202

Section 202 — National security.

Extent: E+W+S

This version in force from 2026-01-06

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) Where in the opinion of any Minister of the Crown the disclosure of any information would be contrary to the interests of national security—

(a) nothing in any of the provisions to which this section applies requires any person to disclose the information, and

(b) no person shall disclose the information in any proceedings in any court or tribunal relating to any of those provisions.

(2) This section applies to—

(a) Part I, so far as it relates to employment particulars,

(b) in Part V, [F1 sections [F2 43M,] 44, 45A [F3 , 47 and 47C]], and sections 48 and 49 so far as relating to those sections,

(c) in Part VI, sections [F4 55 to 57B] and 61 to 63,

(d) in Part VII, sections 66 to 68, and sections 69 and 70 so far as relating to those sections,

(e) Part VIII,

(eza) [F5 Part 8A,]

(ea) [F6 Part 8B,]

(f) in Part IX, sections 92 and 93 where they apply by virtue of section 92(4),

(g) Part X so far as relating to a dismissal which is treated as unfair—

(i) [F7 by section [F8 98B,] 99, 100, 101A(d) or 103, or by section 104 in its application in relation to time off under section 57A,]

(ii) by subsection (1) of section 105 by reason of the application of subsection [F9 (2A),] (3) or (6) of that section, [F10 or by reason of the application of subsection (4A) in so far as it applies where the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which an employee was selected for dismissal was that specified in section 101A(d)] and

(h) this Part and Parts XIV and XV (so far as relating to any of the provisions in paragraphs (a) to (g)).

Amendment notes

  1. F1 Words in s. 202(2)(b) substituted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 31(5)
  2. F2 Word in s. 202(2)(b) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 39(2); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
  3. F3 Words in s. 202(2)(b) substituted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 36(a); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)
  4. F4 Words in s. 202(2)(c) substituted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 36(b); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)
  5. F5 S. 202(2)(eza) inserted (6.1.2026 for specified purposes) by Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), ss. 9(7), 159(3); S.I. 2026/3, reg. 2(6)
  6. F6 S. 202(2)(ea) inserted (4.12.2023) by Carer’s Leave Act 2023 (c. 18), s. 3(3), Sch. para. 14; S.I. 2023/1283, reg. 2
  7. F7 S. 202(2)(g)(i) substituted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 36(c); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)
  8. F8 Words in s. 202(2)(g)(i) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 39(3)(a); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
  9. F9 Words in s. 202(2)(g)(ii) substituted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 39(3)(b); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
  10. F10 Words in s. 202(2)(g)(ii) inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(6)(b)