Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993

11 After section 139 of the 1978 Act there shall be inserted—

“ House of Lords staff E+W+S

139A Provisions as to House of Lords staff.

139A (1) The provisions of Parts I, II, III, V and VIII, and this Part and section 53 shall apply in relation to employment as a relevant member of the House of Lords staff as they apply to other employment.

(2) Nothing in any rule of law or the law or practice of Parliament shall prevent a relevant member of the House of Lords staff from bringing a civil employment claim before the court or from bringing before an industrial tribunal proceedings of any description which could be brought before such a tribunal by a person who is not such a member.

(3) For the purposes of the application of the enactments applied by subsection (1) in relation to a relevant member of the House of Lords staff—

(a) the reference in paragraph 1(5)(c) of Schedule 9 to a person’s undertaking or any undertaking in which he works shall be construed as a reference to the national interest or, if the case so requires, the interests of the House of Lords; and

(b) any other reference to an undertaking shall be construed as a reference to the House of Lords.

(4) Where the terms of his contract of employment restrict the right of a relevant member of the House of Lords staff to take part in—

(a) certain political activities, or

(b) activities which may conflict with his official functions,

nothing in section 29 shall require him to be allowed time off work for public duties connected with any such activities.

(5) In this section—

• relevant member of the House of Lords staff means any person who is employed under a contract of employment with the Corporate Officer of the House of Lords;

• civil employment claim means a claim arising out of or relating to a contract of employment or any other contract connected with employment, or a claim in tort arising in connection with a person’s employment; and

• the court means the High Court or the county court.

(6) For the purposes of the application of the enactments applied by subsection (1) and of any civil employment claim in relation to a person continuously employed in or for the purposes of the House of Lords up to the time when he became so employed under a contract of employment with the Corporate Officer of the House of Lords, his employment shall not be treated as having been terminated by reason only of a change in his employer before or at that time.”.