Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Time Off for Public Duties Order 2000 and shall come into force on 14th August 2000.

Extension of rights to members of Scottish water and sewerage authorities and Water Industry Consultative Committees

2. Section 50(2) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 shall be modified as follows-

(a)the word "or" at the end of paragraph (f) shall be omitted;

(b)the word "or" shall be added at the end of paragraph (g), and

(c)the following paragraph shall be added after paragraph (g)-

"(h)a water and sewerage authority established under section 62(1) of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994(2) or a Water Industry Consultative Committee established under section 67A(2) of that Act."

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Subsection (2) of section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 provides for an employee who is a member of a public body to be permitted to take time off during working hours in order to attend meetings or for other purposes connected with the functions of the body. The right to time off is available only in relation to bodies specified in the subsection, but the Secretary of State has power to modify it by adding or removing particular bodies. This Order adds Scottish water and sewerage authorities and Water Industry Consultative Committees to the list of bodies specified.