Queen Mary and Westfield College Act 1995

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Queen Mary and Westfield College Act 1995.

2 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the subject or context otherwise requires—

• “the appointed day” means 1st August 1995 or the date on which this Act is passed, whichever is later;

• “the charter” means the charter incorporating the governors of The Medical College of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London, granted by His late Majesty King George the Fifth on 26th July 1921;

• “the College” means Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London;

• “the Council” means the Council of the College;

• “the existing bodies” means The Medical College of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London and The London Hospital Medical College, or either of them as the case may be.

3 Dissolution of existing bodies

On the appointed day—

(a) The Medical College of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London shall be dissolved and the charter shall be revoked; and

(b) The London Hospital Medical College shall be dissolved and the scheme made pursuant to section 15 of the [1946 c. 81.] National Health Service Act 1946 constituting the governing body of that College, defining the duties and powers of that College and providing for its management and control shall be revoked.

4 Transfer of property, etc

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, all property, real and personal, of every description (including things in action) and all rights and privileges of the existing bodies which immediately before the appointed day belonged to or were vested in or exercisable by the existing bodies shall on the appointed day, without any conveyance, transfer, assignment or other instrument, be transferred to and vested in, or be exercisable by, the College for all the estate and interest therein of the existing bodies.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) above, the freehold property known as “The Medical College of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ” and registered at Her Majesty’s Land Registry under Title No. NGL 644815 shall on the appointed day be transferred to The Medical College of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Trust.

5 Transfer of obligations, etc

All debts and obligations of the existing bodies shall on the appointed day be transferred and attached to the College and shall thereafter be discharged and satisfied by the College.

6 Savings for agreements, deeds, actions, etc

Subject to subsection (2) of section 4 (Transfer of property, etc.) of this Act, all agreements, appointments, awards, contracts, deeds and other instruments, and all actions and proceedings and causes of action, which immediately before the appointed day were existing or pending in favour of, or against, the existing bodies shall on and from the appointed day continue and may be carried into effect, enforced and prosecuted by, or in favour of, or against, the College to the same extent and in like manner as if the College instead of the existing bodies had been party to, or interested in, the same respectively.

7 Construction of bequests, etc., and powers of trustees

(1) Any scheme, will, deed or other instrument, whether made or executed before, on or after the appointed day, which contains any bequest, gift or trust or other benefit in favour of or connected with the existing bodies shall, on and after the appointed day, be read and have effect as if the College were named therein instead of the existing bodies.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, any trustees who, immediately before the appointed day, had power, for all or any purposes relating to hospital services (including research) or to any other part of the health service associated with hospitals, to assist, support or otherwise benefit an existing body, shall, on and from that day, have power to assist, support or otherwise benefit the College as if it were a hospital for which those trustees were appointed.

(3) In this section “the health service” and “hospital” have the same meaning as in the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977.

8 Transfer of powers to appoint or nominate

Any power or right of the existing bodies or of any of their officers or employees to appoint or nominate a member of any education authority, or of the governing body of any educational, charitable or other institution, shall on the appointed day be transferred to, and may be exercised by, the College or the officer or employee of the College who in the opinion of the Council most nearly performs the functions formerly performed by the former officer or employee in question.