Explanatory note

These Regulations are made in connection with section 116B(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 which restricts the circumstances in which deductions of union subscriptions from wages in the public sector may be made.

Regulation 2 specifies, for the purposes of section 116B, who is to be treated as the employer of a person who is employed by the Crown.

Regulation 3 specifies Government Departments (other than the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security Service and the Government Communications Headquarters), the Scottish Ministers and public authorities described or listed in the Schedule as relevant public sector employers for the purposes of section 116B. Regulation 3(3) excludes a devolved Welsh authority from being a relevant public sector employer.

Regulation 4 makes provision about contracts of employment and collective agreements that immediately prior to the coming into force of section 116B(1) allow for deduction of trade union subscriptions to be made from wages.

A full impact assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector has been prepared. A copy has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.