Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the European Communities (Designation) Order 2007 and comes into force on 7th March 2007.

(2) In this Order—

“designate” means designate for the purposes of section 2(2), and similar expressions are to be construed accordingly;

“Minister or department” means—

“section 2(2)” means section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972;

“subordinate legislation” means orders, rules, regulations or schemes made under section 2(2).

Designation in relation to land contamination

2.  Each of the following is designated in relation to the prevention and remedying of land contamination—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) any Northern Ireland department, and

(c) the National Assembly for Wales.

Designation in relation to companies, etc.

3.  Each of the following is designated in relation to the creation, operation, regulation or dissolution of companies and other forms of business organisation—

(a) the Secretary of State, and

(b) any Northern Ireland department.

Relationship with other designations

4.—(1) This Order does not restrict the scope of any designation made by any other Order.

(2) Where—

(a) a Minister or department is designated by this Order, and

(b) any other Minister or department is designated in relation to the same matter by this or any other Order,

they may make subordinate legislation in relation to that matter jointly.

Restrictions

5.—(1) Articles 2(b) and 3(b) only designate Northern Ireland departments to make subordinate legislation that forms part of the law of Northern Ireland, except where the subordinate legislation is made jointly with a Minister or department other than a Northern Ireland Minister or Northern Ireland department.

(2) Article 2(c) only designates the National Assembly for Wales to make subordinate legislation that applies in relation to Wales, except where the subordinate legislation is made jointly with another Minister or department.

(3) In paragraph (2), “Wales” has the meaning given by section 158(1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006(3).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order designates the Secretary of State, any Northern Ireland department and the National Assembly for Wales so that they may exercise the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (“section 2(2)”) in relation to the prevention and remedying of land contamination. It also designates the Secretary of State and any Northern Ireland department so that they may exercise the powers conferred by section 2(2) in relation to the creation, operation, regulation or dissolution of companies and other forms of business organisation.