Local Update

Yesterday the Conservatives tabled an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill in the House of Lords, which make it a requirement that a parliamentary vote will be conducted should the Home Secretary decide to overturn a Police Arbitration Tribunal decision in future. The amendment also covers the same for prison officers.

 The amendment below was successfully passed by the House of Lords yesterday. We have concerns that the wording of the amendment does not specify determinations, and we have sought legal advice on how the amendment could be more precisely worded. We have forwarded this advice to the Conservatives.

 We have just heard that the amended Bill (with the wording below) will return to the House of Commons again next Tuesday 6^th May. It seems unlikely that further amends can be made at this stage, but even if this is approved in its current wording it will be a significant step forward from the current principle of the Home Secretary being the sole decision maker.

Police and prison service pay: Secretary of State’s power to make regulations

        Insert the following new Clause—      

        "Police and prison service pay: Secretary of State's power to make regulations

        Regulations made by the Secretary of State—   

(a)     specified in section 62 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) (functions of the board with respect to regulations) which do not follow the recommendations of the Police Negotiation Board as established by section 16 of that Act, or      

(b)     under section 128 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33) (pay and related conditions) which do not follow the recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Board as established by that section,

        may not be made until laid before, and approved by resolution of, the House of Commons."