§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether staff transfers will be covered by Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations when the Royal Parks Police is merged with the Metropolitan Police; [153309]
(2) whether the Metropolitan Police has guaranteed to Royal Parks officers the right to continue to work within the parks; [153310]
(3) what will happen to Royal Parks officers who occupy Park Lodges but are not offered employment by the Metropolitan Police; [153311]
(4) what provision will be made for Royal Parks constabulary officers over the age of 60 at the time of the proposed merger with the Metropolitan Police who have a contractual retirement age of 65; [153312]
(5) what will happen to Royal Parks constabulary staff who do not pass the Metropolitan Police health screening process; [153313]
(6) whether early retirement terms will be offered to any Royal Parks Constabulary staff ahead of the proposed merger with the Metropolitan Police; [153314]
(7) what will happen to Royal Parks Constabulary officers who have previously retired from a Home Office force through age and are not eligible for a job with the Metropolitan Police; [153315]
(8) if she will make a statement on the terms proposed by the Metropolitan Police for taking on Royal Parks Constabulary staff. [153316]
§ Mr. CabornMerger of the RPC with the MPS will not happen until the necessary primary legislation is in place. Until then, the RPC will continue to exist and will work alongside an MPS Operational Command Unit which will be in place from 1 April 2004. All those currently working in the RPC will be able to continue to1574W do so, subject to continuing fitness and satisfactory performance, until the legislation to wind up the RPC comes into force.
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 ("TUPE") do not automatically apply to the merger, but we intend to ensure that, where appropriate, the transfer arrangements are consistent with the principles of TUPE.
The MPS has made clear its intention to offer jobs to all RPC staff when the RPC is wound up, subject to satisfaction of their eligibility criteria. The precise arrangements, including those for RPC staff who do not pass the MPS health screening process, those who are over 60 at the date of the merger, those who have previously retired from the MPS on grounds of their age and those occupying lodges in the Parks, are being finalised and will be addressed in a staff consultation which we expect to take place this month.