Leaving Dates in Consultation

Hello.
The company I work for (10 years service) has been bought (Nov 08) by a larger company. We have always known that we would lose my (IT) department as the buying company outsources all its IT.

We knew this well before the buyout became official. On 1 Dec it was announced that our 90 day consultation period would start 5 Jan 09.
In the mean time I have had job interviews and have have an offer on the table. The company who are offering me the position are prepared to wait till the end of my consultation period (5 April).

I feel the process is taking too long and now need to wait till after 5 Feb for individual consulations to start. We have just had the business justification for the redundancies which nobody in my department is challenging.

I dont want to resign and loose the severance / redundancy package and notice period payout I am due.

There are now rumours that the 2 companies will need to be run separately until 1 June 2009 to claim tax credits.

What are my rights as to leaving with severances intact? I feel as there is no job for me going forward I should be allowed to go after consulation period.
Colleagues with short service are leaving and getting new jobs and I feel it is unfair that I cant tell my prospective new employer exactly what my start date will be. I am in danger of loosing the offer if my start date is later than 5 April.

I am being pushed by recruitment consultant to find out more but there is limited opportunity as our HR department is on the redundancy list too and the buying company is based 100 miles away.

Rock - me - Hard place

Any advice gratefully accepted.
Buster

Hi Buster. An expert should be along shortly to offer advice. In the meantime if you think of any other details that might be relevant then let us know, it may help somebody provide you with a more satisfactory answer. Thanks