§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (THE EARL OF SELKIRK)My Lords, these regulations amend the conditions under which compensation is payable under the Transport Act of 1953. Compensation is payable for loss of employment either by way of re-settlement payment or on a long-term basis. In both cases, however, compensation is payable only after a certain number of years' employment under the Commission. It has now been found that when the Commission forms a company, although it will hold all the shares of the company, employment under that company does not count towards qualifying for compensation. 6 It is I think clear that these cases should be brought in, and that is particularly so now that the Commission is forming certain additional companies.
Now all these Regulations do is retrospectively to amend the 1953 Regulations so that employment under a wholly-owned subsidiary company by the Commission counts towards compensation under the 1953 Act where that applies. I would add only that all the major unions concerned have expressed their satisfaction with these proposals.
§ Moved, That the Draft British Transport Commission (Compensation to Employees) (Amendment) Regulations, 1956, reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday last, be approved. —(The Earl of Selkirk.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.