The Vehicle and Driving Licences (Compensation to Officers) Regulations 1977

EXPLANATORY NOTE

1.  These Regulations revoke and re-enact, with amendments, the Vehicle and Driving Licences (Compensation to Officers) Regulations 1970 made under section 2 of the Vehicle and Driving Licences Act 1969. The principal changes are outlined in the following paragraphs.

2.  Transitional provisions and savings have been made for persons entitled or in payment under the revoked regulations (regulation 1(3) and (4)).

3.  The qualifying service for resettlement compensation has been reduced from 3 to 2 years (regulation 7). Compensation is payable as a lump sum, with the maximum award raised from 26 weeks net emoluments to 30 weeks gross emoluments (regulation 8). It is subject to adjustment only in respect of redundancy or similar payments which the claimant may be awarded (regulation 9). No reductions such as were formerly provided are to be made in respect of superannuation or National Insurance Benefits, or earnings from alternative employment.

4.  The qualifying service for long-term compensation has been reduced from 8 to 5 years (regulation 11). The award is no longer to be reduced to take account of resettlement compensation payments. Awards for diminution of emoluments are no longer to be restricted to two-thirds of the amount of the diminution (regulation 14). The basis of calculation has been altered from net to gross emoluments.

5.  The qualifying service for retirement compensation has been reduced from 8 to 5 years (regulation 16). The award is no longer to be reduced to take account of re-settlement compensation payment. It is not payable if the person has continued to pay superannuation contributions as if he had suffered no loss of emoluments (regulation 18).

6.  The bar to compensation where emoluments have been diminished by less than 2½% has been removed.

7.  A person is required to pay either to the fund authority (as defined by regulation 2(1)) or to the Secretary of State an amount equivalent to any sum paid to him by way of return of contributions when he lost his employment (regulation 21).

8.  The provisions relating to compensation payable to a personal representative, widow or dependent have been revised to provide short term benefits at higher rates than previously (regulation 23).

9.  In reviewing and making adjustments to long-term and retirement compensation to take account of superannuation benefits payable and earnings from alternative employment, provision is made to disregard the effect of certain increases in those benefits and earnings (regulation 32).