Commentary on Sections: Part 1 Schedule 2: Abolition of magistrates’ courts committees: transfers
23.Schedule 2 sets out the arrangements for the transfer of staff from MCCs and local authorities to the employment of the Lord Chancellor. It also enables the Lord Chancellor to make schemes transferring property, rights or liabilities from MCCs, local authorities and others to him or another Minister of the Crown.
24.Paragraph 11 applies the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981/1794) (TUPE) without restriction to MCCs and will effect the transfer of MCC employees into the employment of the Lord Chancellor. Paragraph 12 applies to local authority staff. Under paragraph 12(2)(b) local authority staff who spend "a substantial part" of their time on MCC duties during the course of a year, can be transferred to the Lord Chancellor's employment; however, the ultimate decision as to whether to transfer such an employee is for the Lord Chancellor. It is intended that in practice any transfer would be subject to consultation with the individuals affected.      Paragraph 14 provides that any MCC or local authority staff who are regarded as ‘aliens’ will still be eligible to transfer into  the employment of the Lord Chancellor. An ‘alien’ in this context can be defined as a person who is precluded from employment in the civil service by existing legislation i.e. nationals of non-EC or non-EFTA states.