§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all areas within(a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28651]
§ Mr. HagueCrown Immunity applies to the Department of Social Security and all its next steps agencies in all instances where the Crown is not included in a particular piece of legislation. Examples of this occur in the Employment Protection Consolidation Act 1978 in respect of redundancy and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in respect of prosecution. Where the Crown is not so included it always endeavours to follow the legislation. The Crown is included in much legislation—for example the Data Protection Act 1984—and much employment legislation. The Department also has duties by virtue of social security legislation. Whenever a new piece of legislation is drafted, the question of whether the Crown should be included is always considered.