Reserve Forces Act 1996

Part XII U.K. Miscellaneous and General

Miscellaneous U.K.

120 Disbanding of units: charitable property. U.K.

Schedule 5 (treatment of charitable property held for purposes of any body of a reserve force which has been, or is to be, disbanded or amalgamated with another body) shall have effect.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 91: Functions of the Department of Health and Social Services transferred to the Department for Social Development and all property, rights and liabilities to which the transferor is entitled or subject in connection with any such function transferred to the transferee (1.12.1999) by S.R. 1999/481, arts. 4, 8(b) 11, Sch. 6 Pt. II

F1 121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 121 repealed (1.7.1997) by 1997 c. 23, ss. 8(4), 9(2), Sch. 3 (with s. 7(3), Sch. 2 para. 6)

122 Safeguard of employment for members of reserve forces. U.K.

(1) The M1 Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985 shall be amended as follows.

(2) For subsection (1) of section 1 (obligation to reinstate) there shall be substituted the following subsections—

“(1) This section applies to any person who is in permanent service under—

(a) Part IV (special agreements for call out) or Part V (special members) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996;

(b) a call-out order under Part VI of that Act (orders authorising general call out of members of reserve forces); or

(c) a recall order under section 68 (recall of officers and former servicemen) of that Act.

(1A) In this Act “whole-time service” means permanent service to which this section applies.”

(3) For subsection (1) of section 17 (prohibition of dismissal for liability to whole-time service) there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(1) If the employer of a person who may be required to enter upon a period of whole-time service—

(a) terminates that person’s employment without his consent at any time when he is not in that service, and

(b) does so solely or mainly by reason of any duties or liabilities which that person may be liable to perform or discharge—

(i) if required to report at any time or place with a view to entering into whole-time service; or

(ii) if he enters upon a period of whole-time service,

the employer is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.”

(4) In section 20(1) (interpretation), for the definition of “whole-time service” there shall be substituted the following definition—

““whole-time service” has the meaning given by section 1(1A).”

(5) For subsections (3) and (4) of section 20 (interpretation) there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(3) A period of whole time service shall not be regarded as having ceased by reason of any absence on leave (including sick leave or maternity leave) before release from service or discharge.”

(6) The amendments made by this section do not affect the operation of the M2 Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985 in its application to persons liable to be called out or recalled for permanent service under the M3 Reserve Forces Act 1980 or officers liable to be called out or recalled otherwise than under this Act.

Marginal Citations

M1 1985 c. 17.

M2 1985 c. 17.

M3 1980 c. 9.

F2 123 Billeting. U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F2 S. 123 repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F3 124 Exemption from tolls etc. U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F3 S. 124 repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 51, Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

125 Absence for voting. U.K.

No member of a reserve force shall be liable, when not in permanent service, to any penalty or punishment on account of his absence from duty in the United Kingdom for voting at—

(a) any election of a Member of Parliament [F4 a Member of the Scottish Parliament] [F5 , a Member of the National Assembly for Wales,] [F6 or a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly], or

(b) any local election,

or going to or returning from such voting.

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in s. 125(a) inserted (11.3.1999) by S.I. 1999/787, art. 97, Sch. 8 para. 1

F5 Words in s. 125(a) inserted (1.10.2001 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 2001 c. 19, s. 34, Sch. 6 Pt. 3 para. 13; S.I. 2001/3234, arts. 2, 3

F6 Words in s. 125(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 2 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))

[F7 125A Supply of contact details by HMRC U.K.

(1) This subsection applies to contact details for—

(a) a member of an ex-regular reserve force, or

(b) a person to whom section 66 (officers and former servicemen liable to recall) applies,

which are held by HMRC in connection with a function of HMRC.

(2) HMRC may supply contact details to which subsection (1) applies to the Secretary of State for the purpose of enabling the Secretary of State—

(a) to contact a member of an ex-regular reserve force in connection with the person's liability, or potential liability, to be called out for service under Part 6;

(b) to contact a person to whom section 66 applies in connection with the person's liability, or potential liability, to be recalled for service under Part 7.

(3) Where a person's contact details are supplied under subsection (2) for a purpose described in that subsection, they may also be used for defence purposes connected with the person's service (whether past, present or future) in the reserve forces or regular services.

(4) In this section, “HMRC” means Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.]

Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 125A-125C inserted (23.7.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), ss. 195(2), 212(1) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 3(l)

[F7 125B Prohibition on disclosure of contact details supplied under section 125A U.K.

(1) A person who receives information supplied under section 125A may not disclose it except with the consent of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (which may be general or specific).

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the person reasonably believed—

(a) that the disclosure was lawful, or

(b) that the information had already lawfully been made available to the public.

(4) Subsections (4) to (7) of section 19 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 apply to an offence under this section as they apply to an offence under that section.

(5) Nothing in section 107 or 108 (institution of proceedings and evidence) applies in relation to an offence under this section.]

Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 125A-125C inserted (23.7.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), ss. 195(2), 212(1) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 3(l)

[F7 125C Data protection U.K.

(1) Nothing in section 125A or 125B authorises the making of a disclosure which contravenes the data protection legislation.

(2) In this section, “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act).]

Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 125A-125C inserted (23.7.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), ss. 195(2), 212(1) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 3(l)

F8 126 Postponement of transfer to the reserve or discharge of servicemen. U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F8 S. 126 repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 52, Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

General U.K.

127 Interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Act—

“additional duties commitment” means a commitment under section 25;

“call-out order” has the meaning given by section 64;

“the ex-regular reserve forces” has the meaning given by section 2(2);

[F9 “full-time service commitment” means a commitment under section 24;]

“man” (except in Part VII) has the meaning given by section 2(4);

F10 . . .

“prescribed” means (except in Part VII) prescribed by orders or regulations under section 4;

“recall” and “recall order” have the meanings given by section 77;

F11 ...

[F12 “the regular army” has the meaning given by section 374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006;]

“regular services” means the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the regular army or the [F13 Royal Air Force];

“the reserve forces”, “the reserve naval and marine forces”, “the reserve land forces” and “the reserve air forces” have the meaning given by section 1(2);

“reserve marine force” means the Royal Marines Reserve;

[F14 “ section 24 commitment ” means a commitment under section 24;]

[F15 “service offence” has the meaning given by section 50 of the Armed Forces Act 2006;]

“special member” means a member of a reserve force who is, by virtue of Part V, a special member of that force;

“term of compulsory service” has the meaning given by section 13(7);

“the volunteer reserve forces” has the meaning given by section 2(3).

(2) Any reference in this Act to a member of a reserve force or a member of the reserve forces is to an officer in, or a man of, that force or any of those forces, as the case may be.

[F16 (3) The officer who is the “commanding officer” of a person for the purposes of any provision of this Act shall be determined by or under regulations made by the Defence Council under this subsection.

(4) Section 164(2) and (3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 apply in relation to section 95(2)(a) of, and paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 1 to, this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in s. 127(1) omitted (1.5.2022 for specified purposes) by virtue of Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), s. 24(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 10); S.I. 2022/471, reg. 2(c)

F10 S. 127(1): definition of "permanent service" omitted (1.1.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1998/3086, reg. 10(5)

F11 Words in s. 127(1) repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 53(2)(a), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F12 Words in s. 127(1) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 53(2)(b); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F13 Words in s. 127(1) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 53(2)(c); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F14 Words in s. 127(1) inserted (1.5.2022 for specified purposes) by Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), s. 24(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(b) (with Sch. 2 para. 10); S.I. 2022/471, reg. 2(c)

F15 Words in s. 127(1) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 53(2)(d); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F16 S. 127(3)(4) added (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 53(3); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

128 Transitory provisions. U.K.

Schedule 8 (transitory and transitional provisions relating to the organisation of the reserve forces as maintained under the M4 Reserve Forces Act 1980) shall have effect.

Marginal Citations

M4 1980 c. 9.

129 Application of Act to [F17 members of transitional classes]. U.K.

(1) Schedule 9 shall have effect with respect to the application of this Act in relation to members of the reserve forces who are members of [F18 —

(a) the original transitional class (see Parts 1 and 2 of that Schedule), or

(b) the second transitional class (see Parts 3 and 4 of that Schedule).]

(2) Nothing in the Reserve Forces Act 1980 shall apply to a member of a reserve force who is not a member of [F19 the original transitional class] or, in the case of a person who is to be transferred to the reserve from the regular services, is not capable of becoming a member of [F19 the original transitional class].

(3) [F20 In this Act— “the original transitional class”], in relation to members of the reserve forces, shall be construed in accordance with Part I of Schedule 9;

[F21 “the second transitional class”, in relation to members of the reserve forces, shall be construed in accordance with Part 3 of Schedule 9.]

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in s. 129 heading substituted (1.10.2014) by Defence Reform Act 2014 (c. 20), s. 50(1), Sch. 6 para. 3 (with s. 49(4), Sch. 7 para. 12(3)); S.I. 2014/2370, art. 4(b)

F18 Words in s. 129(1) substituted (1.10.2014) by Defence Reform Act 2014 (c. 20), s. 50(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(2) (with s. 49(4), Sch. 7 para. 12(3)); S.I. 2014/2370, art. 4(b)

F19 Words in s. 129(2) substituted (1.10.2014) by Defence Reform Act 2014 (c. 20), s. 50(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(3) (with s. 49(4), Sch. 7 para. 12(3)); S.I. 2014/2370, art. 4(b)

F20 Words in s. 129(3) substituted (1.10.2014) by Defence Reform Act 2014 (c. 20), s. 50(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(4)(a) (with s. 49(4), Sch. 7 para. 12(3)); S.I. 2014/2370, art. 4(b)

F21 Words in s. 129(3) inserted (1.10.2014) by Defence Reform Act 2014 (c. 20), s. 50(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(4)(b) (with s. 49(4), Sch. 7 para. 12(3)); S.I. 2014/2370, art. 4(b)

130 Power to make transitional, consequential etc. provisions. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such transitional and consequential provisions and such savings as he considers necessary or expedient in preparation for, in connection with, or in consequence of—

(a) the coming into force of any provision of this Act; or

(b) the operation of any enactment repealed or amended by a provision of this Act during any period when the repeal or amendment is not wholly in force.

(2) Regulations under this section—

(a) may make modifications of any enactment contained in this or in any other Act;

(b) shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

131 Consequential amendments and repeals. U.K.

(1) Schedule 10 (consequential amendments) shall have effect.

(2) The enactments specified in Schedule 11 (which include some that are spent) are repealed to the extent specified.

132 Short title, extent and commencement. U.K.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

(2) This Act extends to Northern Ireland.

(3) Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that any of the provisions of this Act shall extend, with such exceptions and modifications as appear to Her Majesty to be appropriate, to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

(4) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint; and different days may be appointed for different purposes.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 132(3) power extended (15.12.2021) by Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), ss. 24(2)(b), 26(5)