HC Deb 28 May 1976 vol 912 c474W
Mr. David Hunt

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the dates when the following sections of the Employment Protection Act 1975 will come into operation, viz.: paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 16, paragraphs 7, 8, 11, 13 and 14 of Part II of Schedule 16, paragraphs 14(1)(a) and 15 of Part III of Schedule 16, Section 109, Sections 22 to 28, Sections 81 to 84 and the date when the codes of practice under the Act will be issued.

Mr. Harold Walker

The timing of the exercise of the powers under Section 109, which is already in force, and of the implementations of the other provisions largely depends on such factors as the need to phase the increase in the work of the tribunals and other bodies concerned in operating the provisions of the Act and other recent legislation and, in some cases, on the general economic situation and the time needed to operate the statutory procedures for consultation on the draft ACAS Codes. I cannot at present give precise dates in respect of any of them.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he proposes to activate Sections 57 to 62 of the Employment Protection Act 1975 relating to time off work for public and other duties.

Mr. Harold Walker

Section 61, relating to time off work to look for work or make arrangements for training, and Section 62 so far as it is relevant to that provision, come into force on 1st June 1976. Sections 57 and 58, relating to time off work for trade union duties and activities, will be activated when the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has issued a code of practice providing practical guidance relevant to these provisions, and the code has been approved by Parliament. Section 59, which relates to time off for public duties, will be activated at the same time as Sections 57 and 58.