HL Deb 23 June 1998 vol 591 cc206-7

127 After Clause 27, insert the following new clause—

JOINT EXERCISE OF FUNCTIONS OF FUNDING COUNCILS IN SCOTLAND

(". Before section 60 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 there shall be inserted the following section—

Joint exercise of certain functions.

59A.—(1) The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council ("the councils") may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, enter into arrangements for the joint discharge of such of their functions as may be so approved.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, arrangements under that subsection may include arrangements—

  1. (a) for an individual to hold appointments as both—
    1. (i) the chief officer of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council under paragraph 2 of Schedule 7 to this Act; and
    2. (ii) an equivalent officer under an order under section 7 of this Act establishing the Scottish Further Education Funding Council;
  2. (b) for such functions to be carried out by—
    1. (i) a joint committee of the councils,
    2. (ii) a member of either of the councils, or
    3. (iii) an officer or employee of the councils or of either of them;
  3. (c) permitting the creation by the councils of a body corporate to carry out such of their functions to which such arrangements relate as the councils may delegate to it;
  4. (d) for staff to be employed jointly by the councils;
  5. (e) for the staff of either of the councils—
    1. (i) to carry out such functions on behalf of the other council;
    2. (ii) to be transferred to any body corporate created in accordance with such arrangements.

(3) Where a body corporate is created by virtue of subsection (2)(c) above—

  1. (a) employment with that body shall be included among the kinds of employment to which a scheme under section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 can apply; and
    2. 207
  2. (b) the councils shall pay to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as he may direct, such sums as he may determine in respect of the increase attributable to paragraph (a) above in the sums payable out of money provided by Parliament under that Act.

(4) In this section— functions" includes powers and duties; and joint committee" includes any sub-committee of such a committee.".").

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 127.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 127.—(Baroness Blackstone.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.