National Institutions Measure 1998

1 (1) Except where objection is made under subsection (6) below, a transfer shall not operate so as to terminate a contract of employment, but any contract which would otherwise have been terminated by the transfer shall have effect after the transfer as if originally made between the transferred officer concerned and the common employer.

(2) Without prejudice to sub-paragraph (1) above, but subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (6) below, on the completion of a transfer—

(a) all the transferor body’s rights, powers, duties and liabilities under or in connection with any such contract shall be transferred by virtue of this paragraph to the common employer, and

(b) anything done before the transfer is completed by or in relation to the transferor body in respect of that contract shall be deemed to have been done by or in relation to the common employer.

(3) Any rights, powers, duties and liabilities of the transferor body in respect of the provision of old age, invalidity or survivors' benefits under a pension scheme shall be transferred only to the extent that those benefits relate to a period of employment of the transferred officer after the transfer or to any voluntary contribution to the scheme made by him after the transfer.

(4) Sub-paragraph (2) above shall not transfer or otherwise affect the liability of any person to be prosecuted for, convicted of and sentenced for any offence.

(5) In the case of an officer transferred from the Church Commissioners or the Pensions Board, sub-paragraph (2) above shall not operate to transfer rights and powers in connection with any loan made to that officer.

(6) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall not operate to transfer a contract of employment and the rights, powers, duties and liabilities under or in connection with it if the employee to whom it relates informs the transferor body or the common employer that he objects to becoming employed by the common employer.

(7) Where an employee so objects this paragraph shall operate so as to terminate his contract of employment with the transferor body but he shall not be treated, for any purpose, as having been dismissed by that body.

(8) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (6) above are without prejudice to any right of an employee arising apart from this paragraph to terminate his contract of employment without notice if a substantial change is made in his working conditions to his detriment; but no such right shall arise by reason only that, by virtue of this paragraph, the identity of his employer changes unless the employee shows that, in all the circumstances, the change is a significant change and is to his detriment.