§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the need to satisfy the provisions of the Acquired Rights directive and the protection of employment rights in the event of any transfer of undertakings operated by his Department or responsible to his Department.
§ Mr. NorrisThe provisions of EC Directive 77/187 ("The Acquired Rights Directive") are given effect in the United Kingdom by the Tranfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, 1981. These regulations provide that transfers which fall within their scope will not operate to terminate the employees' contracts of employment, which will continue as if made between the transferee and the employees. Whether any particular transfer is covered by the regulations will depend on the circumstances of each case.