§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to extend TUPE regulations to local authorities who transfer staff to contractors following contractual agreements. [92546]
§ Mr. LeslieClauses 101 and 102 of the Local Government Bill will confer new powers on the Secretary of State and the National Assembly of Wales to require best value authorities in England and Wales, when engaged in contracting-out exercises, to deal with staff matters in accordance with directions. It is intended that the direction-making powers will be used to ensure that contracting exercises are conducted either on the basis that TUPE will apply or, in circumstances where TUPE does not apply, that staff involved should be treated no less favourably than had the regulations applied, unless there are exceptional circumstances. The clauses also ensure that TUPE transferees from local authorities will be offered either retention of the Local Government Pension Scheme or a broadly comparable scheme.