Section 194 — House of Lords staff.

(1) The provisions of this Act to which this section applies have effect in relation to employment as a relevant member of the House of Lords staff as they have effect in relation to other employment.

(2) This section applies to—

(a) Part I,

(aa) [F1 Part 2B,]

(b) Part III,

(c) in Part V, [F2 sections [F3 43M,] 44, 45A [F4 , 47 [F5 , 47C [F6 , 47D and 47E]]]], and sections 48 and 49 so far as relating to those sections,

(ca) [F7 Part 5B,]

(d) Part VI, apart from sections 58 to 60,

(e) [F8 Parts [F9 6A to 8B],]

(f) in Part IX, sections 92 and 93,

(g) Part X, apart from sections 101 and 102, and

(h) this Part and Parts XIV and XV.

(2A) [F10 For the purposes of the application of section 98B(2) in relation to a relevant member of the House of Lords staff, the reference to the employer’s undertaking shall be construed as a reference to the national interest or, if the case so requires, the interests of the House of Lords.]

(3) For the purposes of the application of [F11 the other provisions] of this Act to which this section applies in relation to a relevant member of the House of Lords staff references to an undertaking shall be construed as references to the House of Lords.

(4) Nothing in any rule of law or the law or practice of Parliament prevents a relevant member of the House of Lords staff from bringing before the High Court or [F12 the county court]—

(a) a claim arising out of or relating to a contract of employment or any other contract connected with employment, or

(b) a claim in tort arising in connection with employment.

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

(a) certain political activities, or

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

nothing in section 50 requires him to be allowed time off work for public duties connected with any such activities.

(6) 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.

(7) For the purposes of the application of—

(a) the provisions of this Act to which this section applies, or

(b) a claim within subsection (4),

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.

Amendment notes

1. F1 S. 194(2)(aa) inserted (31.7.2023 for specified purposes, 1.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 (c. 13), ss. 12(2)(a), 14(2); S.I. 2023/876, reg. 3(c); S.I. 2024/829, reg. 3(l)
2. F2 Words in s. 194(2)(c) substituted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 31(5)
3. F3 Words in s. 194(2)(c) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 36(2); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
4. F4 Words in s. 194(2)(c) substituted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 32; S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)
5. F5 Words in s. 194(2)(c) substituted (1.9.2002 for certain purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 27, Sch. 1 para. 1(6)(a); S.I. 2002/1727, art. 2; and those same words substituted (6.4.2003) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 43(a); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
6. F6 Words in s. 194(2)(c) substituted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 41(7), 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
7. F7 S. 194(2)(ca) inserted (24.7.2023) by Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 (c. 17), ss. 1(5), 3(2)
8. F8 S. 194(2)(e) substituted (6.4.2003) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 43(b); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
9. F9 Words in s. 194(2)(e) substituted (4.12.2023) by Carer’s Leave Act 2023 (c. 18), s. 3(3), Sch. para. 11; S.I. 2023/1283, reg. 2
10. F10 S. 194(2A) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 36(3); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
11. F11 Words in s. 194(3) substituted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 36(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)
12. F12 Words in s. 194(4) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)