To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Port of London Police Federation about reviewing his proposals to privatise the Port of London Authority police; and if he will make a statement.
The federation has expressed to me its concern about the proposed transfer of the PLA police force to the company set up for the port of Tilbury under section 21 of the Ports Act 1991. I have considered their representations very carefully but remain of the view that the transfer of the PLA police to the Tilbury Company is in the best interests of the PLA, of the future owners of the port of Tilbury and of the PLA police alike.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what employment and pension protection has been afforded to police officers serving in the Port of London Police Authority who are nearing retirement age; and if he will make a statement.
The provisions of paragraph 10 of schedule 2 to the Ports Act 1991 make it clear that the transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply to the whole of the PLA's undertaking which is to be transferred to the new Tilbury Company. The effect of these regulations will be to protect at the time of transfer the employment contracts of all PLA employees who transfer, including police officers.The pension rights of those employees who transfer and as a result cease to belong to the PLA pension fund will be protected by the PLA's scheme of transfer for the Tilbury undertaking, as required by section 23(2) of the Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions or guidance he has given to prevent elected officers of the Port of London Police Authority from making their views known on the proposals for privatising the police authority.
I have issued no guidance.