(1) This section applies to -

(a) the person who immediately before the coming into operation of this section held the office of Official Assignee in Bankruptcy (otherwise referred to as the Official Assignee), and

(b) every person who immediately before the coming into operation of this section was a member of the staff of the Courts Service assigned to the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy.

(2) On the coming into operation of this section every member of the staff of the Courts Service to whom this section applies shall be seconded to the Insolvency Service for a period of 2 years.

(3) On the expiry of the period of secondment referred to in subsection (2) each person seconded under that subsection shall -

(a) transfer definitively to the staff of the Insolvency Service, or

(b) subject to subsection (4), exercise a right to return to a suitable vacancy on the staff of the Courts Service.