Customs Buildings Act 1879

1879 CHAPTER 36

An Act for the transfer of property held for the service of Her Majesty's Customs to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings; and for other purposes.

[11th August 1879]

BE it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :

1 Short title.

This Act may be cited for all purposes as the Customs Buildings Act, 1879.

2 Lands, &c. in Great Britain, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, for service of the Customs, to vest in Commissioners of Works, &c.

All lands and hereditaments of freehold or leasehold tenure in Great Britain, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, which are now vested in the Secretary to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs (herein-after called the Commissioners of Customs), or any other person in trust for the same Commissioners or for the service of Her Majesty's Customs, shall become and are hereby vested in the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings (herein-after called the Commissioners of Works) for the public service, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Act of the fifteenth and sixteenth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter twenty-eight, in all respects as if the same had been acquired under the provisions of that Act.

3 Copyholds now vested in Customs to remain so, but in trust for Commissioners of Works.

All lands of copyhold or customary tenure which are now vested in the Secretary to the Commissioners of Customs, or any other person in trust for the same Commissioners or for the service of Her Majesty's Customs, shall remain vested in such secretary or other person, but in trust for the Commissioners of Works for the public service, and shall be subject to the provisions of the said Act of the fifteenth and sixteenth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter twenty-eight, is all respects as if the same had been acquired under the provisions of that Act.

4 As to completion of existing contracts.

All contracts entered into by or on behalf of the Commissioners of Customs in respect of any lands or hereditaments in Great Britain, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands for the service of Her Majesty's Customs, and not at the passing of this Act fully performed and completed, may be enforced and shall be performed and completed for the public service in like manner as if the Commissioners of Works had been parties thereto instead of the Commissioners of Customs.

5 Commissioners of Works empowered to purchase lands, &c.

The Commissioners of Works shall, under and subject to the provisions of the Act of the fifteenth and sixteenth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter twenty-eight, from time to time purchase, hire, or otherwise acquire such buildings, lands, or other hereditaments as may be necessary for the service of Her Majesty's Customs within Great Britain, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands; and for the purposes of any such purchase the [8 & 9 Vict. cc. 18 & 19.] Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and the Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1845, and the Acts amending the same respectively, except so much thereof as relates to the purchase of land otherwise than by agreement, are hereby incorporated with this Act, the special Act being construed to mean this Act, and the promoters of the undertaking being construed to mean the Commissioners of Works.

6 Provisions of ss. 335 to 341, both inclusive, and 345 of 16 & 17 Vict. c. 107, and ss. 275 and 276 of 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36, to continue in force with variations.

The powers and provisions of sections three hundred and thirty-five to three hundred and forty-one, both inclusive, and section three hundred and forty-five of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1853, and of sections two hundred and seventy-five and two hundred and seventy-six of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, shall continue in force as if this Act had not been passed (if the Commissioners of the Treasury shall think fit to exercise the same), except that the moneys referred to in the two hundred and seventy-fifth section of the said Act of 1876, arising from or paid in respect of lands or hereditaments in Great Britain, or the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, shall be paid into the Bank of England to the account of the Commissioners of Works instead of to the Commissioners of Customs, and that lands which under the two hundred and seventy-sixth section of the said Act of 1876 would have vested in Her Majesty, her heirs or successors, shall vest in like manner in the Commissioners of Works.

7 Moneys produced by sale of lands to be paid to the Commissioners of Works.

All moneys and funds now in the hands of or under the control of the Commissioners of Customs produced by sale or exchange of lands or hereditaments in Great Britain, or the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, shall be paid or transferred to the account of the Commissioners of "Works.

8 Act to be registered in Channel Islands.

This Act shall be registered in the Royal Courts of the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey respectively, and the said Royal Courts respectively shall have full power and authority and are hereby required to register the same.