§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market-tested by 30 September 1993 the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive 77/189/EEC will apply.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive 77/189/EEC will be considered on the facts of each individual case, and a number of tests will be applied. For example, it needs to be shown that an undertaking or part of an undertaking is actually being transferred. We are currently in the process of looking at the implications of TUPE and its applicability in relation to the areas being market-tested in the Lord Chancellor's Department, and are seeking the advice of our legal advisers about the relevance of TUPE on a case-by-case basis. No decisions have been made to date.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market-test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.
Mr. John M. TaylorMy aim is to have- the market-testing exercises for those areas listed in my Department's programme completed by 30 September 1993. This does not include county court bailiffs, as the timetable for the review of enforcement agents is dependent upon the approach taken following the recent consultation paper.
658WPlanning of the market-testing exercises is well under way, and initial action is already taking place in most of the areas being market-tested. Significant milestones have been identified in the timetable for each of the areas, examples being that the tender evaluation process for typing services in the Public Trust Office is due in April 1993, and completion of the contract documentation for the pay unit is due by the end of May 1993.