HL Deb 18 July 1994 vol 557 cc51-2

103After Schedule 6, insert the following Schedule—

'Continuing Functions of Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District in Relation to Pensions etc. of Court Staff

1. In this Schedule— court staff' has the same meaning as in section 59 of the 1979 Act, the inner London magistrates' courts committee" has the same meaning as in section [Pensions etc. of justices' chief executive, justices' clerks and staff in inner London area] of this Act, the Receiver" means the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, and responsible authority" has the same meaning as in section 55 of the 1979 Act.

(2) The Receiver shall pay out of the metropolitan police fund any superannuation benefits payable in respect of justices' clerks and other officers employed by the committee of magistrates or the inner London magistrates' courts committee under any enactment or instrument applied to those clerks or other officers by regulations having effect in accordance with section 15(9) of the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967, other than benefits payable by the London Residuary Body, and any superannuation contributions and other payments for which the inner London magistrates' courts committee may be liable as their employer under any such enactment or instrument.

(3) Nothing in paragraph 2 above shall require the Receiver to incur any expenditure or make any payment which would cause the net cost to him in any year of the matters mentioned in paragraph 4 below to exceed the amount which, in relation to that year, is for the time being determined by the Lord Chancellor under paragraph 5(b) below.

(4) The Lord Chancellor may out of money provided by Parliament pay to the Receiver grants towards the net cost to the Receiver in any year—

  1. (a) of the Receiver's functions under paragraph 2 above, and
  2. (b) of the Receiver's functions corresponding to those of responsible authorities under regulations made, or having effect as if made, under section 7 of the Superannuation Act 1972 with respect to court staff.

5.The amount of any grant under paragraph 4 above towards the net cost to the Receiver in any year of the matters mentioned in that paragraph shall not exceed 80 per cent of whichever of the following is the less, namely—

  1. (a) that net cost, and
  2. (b) the amount which, in relation to that year, is for the time being determined for the purposes of this paragraph by the Lord Chancellor.

6. In subsections (5), (6) and (7) of section 59 of the 1979 Act (grants by Lord Chancellor to responsible authorities)—

  1. (a) references to that section include references to this Schedule, and
  2. (b) references to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of that section include references to the matters mentioned in paragraph 4 above.'

The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 103. I spoke to this amendment with Amendment No. 38. However, in view of the fact that the noble Earl, Lord Russell, is now in his place, perhaps I may repeat that it is an elaboration of what we inserted in answer to his representations at a late stage while the Bill was in your Lordships' House. I hope that all the noble Earl's anxieties have been met.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 103.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.