HC Deb 10 December 1970 vol 808 cc802-4

10.11 p.m.

The Minister for Local Government and Development (Mr. Graham Page)

I beg to move, That the London Transport (Compensation to Employees) Regulations 1970, a draft of which was laid before this House on 24th November, be approved. We cannot skip over this Motion quite so quickly as we did the others. These Regulations went before the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments on 1st December, and that Committee was particularly interested in them because they seek to be retrospective to 22nd October, a provision which is authorised by Section 37(3) of the Transport (London) Act, 1969.

The House may be surprised to be called upon to consider Regulations relating to London Transport when, just over 12 months ago, the whole undertaking was handed over to the Greater London Council. Strictly, I should say that it was handed over to the London Transport Executive or, even more accurately, mainly to the London Transport Executive, a small part to British Railways, and another small part to the National Bus Company.

The House has to consider these Regulations because Section 37 of the Transport (London) Act. 1969, required the Minister as he was, now the Secretary of State for the Environment, to make Regulations providing for the payment of compensation to those who have suffered loss by the transfer of a transport undertaking to the London Transport Executive. The persons are described in Regulation 3.

They are entitled to compensation upon the relevant event, which is set out in Schedule 1. This, in short, means that when their employer changes from the London Transport Board to the London Transport Executive, or to the National Bus Company or to a subsidiary of the National Bus Company, they are entitled to compensation if they lose by that transfer.

The sort of compensation to which they are entitled is set out first in Part III, the resettlement compensation. If anyone who has been in employment with the London Transport Executive for three years loses by the changeover, he can claim resettlement compensation. Under Part IV an employee can claim long-term compensation for loss of employment, or loss or diminution of emoluments, or worsening of position. Under Part V an employee can claim retirement compensation or his widow or dependents can claim payment in the event of his death.

I should be happy to go through the Regulations in great detail and say exactly what the employee is entitled to, but I should point out that they follow the usual form which is already well known to the House. The British Transport Regulations were the same kind of Regulations.

I am sure that by the Regulations we have provided full compensation for anyone who suffers loss by reason of the change from the London Transport Board to the London Transport Executive. In order to make certain that nothing is lost by the fact that they have not been brought before the House for about 12 months after the change took place, the Regulations are retrospective for 12 months.

Dr. Alan Glyn (Windsor)

My hon. Friend has said that the Regulations are retrospective. Did I understand him correctly to mean, in his last words, that the only reason for making them retrospective was that this was the first opportunity that Parliament had of bringing them into force, and that we are not making a precedent of retrospective legislation?

Mr. Page

Normally these compensation Regulations come in rather a long time after the event, because consultations take place between all those who are interested, and their organisations. I can assure the House that on this occasion there has been full consultation with the organisations of employees and employers, and that full agreement has been reached on the terms of the Regulations.

10.17 p.m.

Mr. Tom Bradley (Leicester, North-East)

In elaboration of the point made by the Minister, I should declare an interest. I have the honour to be the president of the trade union that negotiated these terms. We are very happy and satisfied with them, and it would ill become me to oppose the Regulations in this place. Therefore, I very much hope that the House will approve the Order.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That the London Transport (Compensation to Employees) Regulations 1970, a draft of which was laid before this House on 24th November, be approved.