22In section 50 of the 1986 Act (interpretation) after subsection (2) (which confers power to treat two or more contracts of employment as one) there shall be inserted—
“(2A)Where, in consequence of the establishment of one or more National Health Service trusts under Part I of the National[1990 c. 19.] Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or the [1978 c. 29.] National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, a woman’s contract of employment is treated by a scheme under that Part or Act as divided so as to constitute two or more contracts, regulations may make provision enabling her to elect for all of those contracts to be treated as one contract for the purposes of this Part of this Act or of such provisions of this Part of this Act as may be prescribed; and any such regulations may prescribe—
(a)the conditions that must be satisfied if a woman is to be entitled to make such an election;
(b)the manner in which, and the time within which, such an election is to be made;
(c)the persons to whom, and the manner in which, notice of such an election is to be given;
(d)the information which a woman who makes such an election is to provide, and the persons to whom, and the time within which, she is to provide it;
(e)the time for which such an election is to have effect;
(f)which one of the woman’s employers under the two or more contracts is to be regarded for the purposes of statutory maternity pay as her employer under the one contract;
and the powers conferred by this subsection are without prejudice to any other power to make regulations under this Part of this Act.”