Imperial Institute Act 1925
1925 c. xvii
An Act to amend the Law with respect to the Management of the Imperial Institute.
[28th May 1925]
Act not in force at Royal Assent : s. 10(2) (now repealed) provided that whole Act should come into force on 1. 7. 1925 unless otherwise ordered

Whereas by the Imperial Institute (Transfer) Act 1902 (hereinafter called “the Act of 1902”) as amended by the Imperial Institute (Management) Act 1916 (hereinafter called “the Act of 1916”) the management of the Imperial Institute is carried on under the Secretary of State for the Colonies by an Executive Council constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 1916 for the purposes mentioned in the Act of 1902 and such other similar purposes as the Secretary of State for the Colonies may determine having regard to the commercial industrial and educational interests of the Empire:
1902 c. cxxxix.
1916 c. 8.
And whereas the Imperial Institute Building and the Endowment Fund mentioned in the Act of 1902 are vested in a body of trustees called the Imperial Institute Trustees and the income of the said fund is payable by the said trustees to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Imperial Institute Building is under his management:
And whereas various other property rights obligations debts or liabilities in connection with the Imperial Institute have become the property rights obligations debts or liabilities of the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
And whereas by Royal Charter dated the twelfth day of June nineteen hundred and nineteen a body was incorporated by the name of the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau for the purposes mentioned in the Charter:
And whereas the future of the Imperial Institute and of the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau was discussed at an Imperial Economic Conference held in London in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-three:
And whereas certain resolutions were adopted at that Conference recommending to the Governments represented thereon the amalgamation of the above bodies the making of further arrangements in regard to the management of the amalgamated body and annual contributions towards the expenses of the Imperial Institute for a period of five years out of moneys provided by Parliament of nine thousand pounds by the Governments of the self-governing Dominions and India of eight thousand pounds and by the Governments of the Colonies and Protectorates of eight thousand pounds:
And whereas it is desirable to empower the governing body hereinafter constituted of the Imperial Institute in co-operation with the Governments represented at that Conference or such of them as for the time being may be making contributions for the purpose to maintain in the Exhibition Galleries of the Imperial Institute exhibitions illustrative of the resources and development of the Empire to accept and expend any additional contributions towards the maintenance of such galleries and exhibitions which may be provided by Parliament and the other Governments aforesaid for that purpose and where practicable to organise from time to time temporary exhibitions of a similar nature elsewhere:
And whereas it is desirable to make provision that certain accommodation in the Imperial Institute building which has been allocated to the use of the Northbrook Society shall continue to be used for Indian purposes:
And whereas for enabling effect to be given to the said recommendations and purposes it is expedient that the provisions hereinafter contained should have effect:

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1, 2(1), 6, 7, 9, 10(2)(3) repealed by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 3

2 Imperial Institute Trustees.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1, 2(1), 6, 7, 9, 10(2)(3) repealed by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 3
(2) The Commonwealth Institute Trustees shall hold the Imperial Institute Building and the Endowment Fund and all other property for the time being vested in them for the purposes of this Act or for any of those purposes to which the same may be applicable.
Words substituted by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2
(3) The Commonwealth Institute Trustees may invest any money constituting capital of the Endowment Fund or other money for the time being vested in them in any securities in which trustees may for the time being invest under the Trustee Investments Act 1961
Words substituted by virtue of Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), s. 17(2)(a)
1961 c. 62.
(4) The Commonwealth Institute Trustees may if requested by the Secretary of State for Education and Science with the consent of the Board of Governors hereinafter constituted sell lease or otherwise dispose of any real or personal estate held by them and apply any proceeds for the purpose of carrying out the objects of this Act or any of those objects to which the property disposed of was applicable but in the case of the proceeds of sale only in a manner in which capital money is properly applicable.
Words substituted by virtue of S.I. 1949/588 (1949 I, p. 2571) art. 2(2) and 1964/490 arts. 2(1), 3(2)
Unreliable margin note

3 Transfer of property to Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade.
All property real or personal all rights and obligations and all debts or liabilities which at the commencement of this Act are the property rights obligations debts or liabilities of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in pursuance of the Acts of 1902 and 1916 or of the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau under the said Charter shall become the property rights obligations debts or liabilities of the responsible Minister and the responsible Minister for the time being shall have any powers necessary to enable him to hold any such property.

4 Application of property.
(1) The Imperial Institute Building or so much thereof as is not for the time being leased or otherwise disposed of shall be used and all property transferred to the responsible Minister under this Act and the income of the Endowment Fund and all sums received by the responsible Minister in respect of the exercise of any of his powers and duties under this Act shall be used and applied by the responsible Minister so far as practicable in carrying out the purposes of the Commonwealth Institute set forth in the First Schedule to this Act so however that any property transferred from the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau which was given to that bureau shall be applied to the purposes for which it was so given.
Words substituted by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2
(2) The responsible Minister shall receive and hold any sums of money or property given or entrusted to him for any purpose for which property transferred to him under this Act may be used and shall apply any such sums of money or property for the purposes for which they are so given or entrusted to him.
(3) The income of the Endowment Fund shall be paid over by the Commonwealth Institute Trustees to the responsible Minister and the Imperial Institute Building shall be under the management of the responsible Minister.

5 Powers of management.
(1) The responsible Minister shall take such steps, make such arrangements and employ such persons as he thinks necessary or expedient for carrying out his duties under this Act.
(2) There shall be established for the purpose of carrying on the management of the Commonwealth Institute under the responsible Minister a Board of Governors constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act.
Words substituted by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1, 2(1), 6, 7, 9, 10(2)(3) repealed by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 3

8 Power to vary provisions of Act.
His Majesty in Council may if an agreement for the purpose is made with the Governments of any of the countries mentioned in subsection (2) of this section which for the time being are contributing towards the expenses of the Commonwealth Institute by Order in Council vary the provisions of this Act which—
(a) prescribe the purposes of the Commonwealth Institute;
(b) regulate the management of the Commonwealth Institute;
(c) prescribe the constitution of the Board of Governors:
Provided that before a draft of any such Order is submitted to His Majesty in Council it shall be laid before each House of Parliament for a period of not less than twenty-one days during the session of Parliament.
(2) The countries hereinbefore referred to are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Ghana, Malaysia, the Republic of Cyprus, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika and Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda and Kenya and Zanzibar and Malawi and Zambia and Malta and The Gambia and Guyana and Botswana and Lesotho and Singapore and Barbados and Mauritius and Swaziland and Tonga and Fiji and the Bahamas and Bangladesh and Grenada and Seychelles and Solomon Islands and Tuvalu and Dominica and St. Lucia, and Kiribati, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa and Nauru, and the New Hebrides, and Zimbabwe, and Belize, and Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Christopher and Nevis and Brunei and Maldivesand Namibia
S. 8(2) added by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2. S. 8(2) is printed as amended by the enactments specified in the Chronological Table of the Statutes (in the entry for Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2), Solomon Islands Act 1978 (c. 15), Sch. para. 8, Tuvalu Act 1978 (c. 20), Sch. para. 8 and S.I. 1978/1030, Sch. para. 8
Word inserted by Pakistan Act 1990 (c.14, SIF 26), s. 1, Sch. para. 1
Words added by S.I. 1978/1889, Sch. para. 8; Kiribati Act 1979 (c.27, SIF 26:19A), Sch. para. 9; S.I. 1979/917, Sch. para. 8; Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa and Nauru (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1980 (c.2, SIF 26:26), Sch. para. 6, New Hebrides Act 1980 (c.16, SIF 26:26A), Sch. 1 para.7; S.I. 1980/701 art. 1(2), Sch. para. 1; Belize Act 1981 (c.52, SIF 26:7A), s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 8; S.I. 1981/1105, art. 2(2), Sch. para. 8, S.I. 1983/882, art. 5, Sch. para. 7; and Brunei and Maldives Act 1985 (c.3, SIF 26:9A), s. 1, Sch. para. 3 respectively
Words in s. 8(2) added (retrospective to 21. 3. 1990) by Namibia Act 1991 (c. 4, SIF 26:25A), s. 1, Sch. para. 1 (with s. 2(2))
Power conferred by s. 8 exercised by S.I. 1949/840, 1953/1201, 1959/2210.
Words substituted by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2

9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1, 2(1), 6, 7, 9, 10(2)(3) repealed by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 3

10 Short title commencement and interpretation.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Imperial Institute Act 1925.
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1, 2(1), 6, 7, 9, 10(2)(3) repealed by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 3
Unreliable marginal note.

SCHEDULES

FIRST SCHEDULE Purposes of the Commonwealth Institute
1 To promote the educational, commercial and industrial interests of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Paras. 1-4 substituted for paras. 1-8 by S.I. 1949/840, art. 3
2 To maintain for public information and instruction in the exhibition galleries of the Commonwealth Institute exhibitions illustrative of the resources and development of the Commonwealth of Nations and of its scenery life and progress and where practicable to organise from time to time temporary exhibitions of a similar nature elsewhere.
Words substituted by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2
3 To co-operate with other agencies within the Commonwealth of Nations formed for purposes similar to those aforesaid.
4 To do anything incidental to or conducive to carrying into effect all or any of the foregoing purposes.
Words substituted by Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (c. 16), Sch. 2

SECOND SCHEDULE Constitution and Proceedings of the Board of Governors

(1) The Board of Governors shall consist of the following appointed governors:—
(a) a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman appointed by the responsible Minister;
(b) persons appointed either by name or office as follows—
by the Governments of the countries mentioned in subsection (2) of section 8 of the Imperial Institute Act 1925, as amended by the Commonwealth Institute Act 1958, and as from time to time further amended or extended, one by each Government;
. . .
Para. (1)(b) substituted by S.I. 1959/2210, art. 2(1)
Words repealed by Zimbabwe Act 1979 (c.60, SIF 26:39), Sch. 3
(c) not more than twelve representatives of educational, commonwealth, commercial and industrial interests, including persons with recent first-hand knowledge of the colonies, appointed by the responsible Minister after consultation with such bodies representative of those interests as she may think fit; and
(d) not more than five persons to be appointed by the Board of Governors by co-optation.
The Minister may appoint such number as she thinks fit of assessors representing Government Departments in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and any such assessor shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Board of Governors.
Para. (1) substituted by S.I. 1953/1201, art. 2
(2) A Governor shall hold office for the period and under the conditions, if any, stated in the terms of his appointment, and subject thereto for a period of three years.
Paras. (2)(3) substituted by S.I. 1959/2210, art. 2(2)
(3) A Governor may resign his office at any time.

(4) Any person ceasing to be an appointed member of the Board of Governors shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(5) The powers of the Board of Governors may be exercised notwithstanding any vacancy in their number.
(6) The Board of Governors may with the consent of the responsible Minister make rules—
(a) for regulating the proceedings (including quorum) of the Board of Governors; and
(b) for enabling the Board of Governors to constitute a Managing Committee and other committees and to include as members of committees persons who are not members of the Board so however that the Managing Committee shall include a representative of the Treasury:
Para. 6(b) substituted by S.I. 1949/840, art. 5
(c) for authorising the delegation to committees of all or any of the powers of the Board of Governors and for regulating the proceedings (including quorum) of the committees; and
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Para. 6(d) repealed by S.I. 1949/840, art. 6