(1)The Minister may by regulations provide, in the case of all or any of the following bodies that is to say, Regional Hospital Boards, Boards of Governors of teaching hospitals, Hospital Management Committees, Executive Councils, joint committees established for the areas of two or more such Councils under section 31(4) of the 1946 Act, and the Dental Estimates Board, for restricting the making of payments by or on behalf of the body otherwise than on such authorisation and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the regulations, but such provision may be made subject to such exceptions as may be so specified; and those regulations may contain such other provisions as to the making and carrying out by all or any of those bodies of such arrangements with respect to financial matters as the Minister thinks necessary for the purpose of securing that the affairs of such bodies are conducted, so far as reasonably practicable, in such manner as to prevent financial loss and to ensure and maintain efficiency.
(2)Without prejudice to the operation of the provisions of any such regulations, the Minister may give to any of the said bodies such directions (which may be specific in character) as to any matter with respect to which regulations may be made under the foregoing subsection as it appears to him is requisite for the purpose of securing that the affairs of the body are conducted, so far as reasonably practicable, in such manner as is mentioned in the foregoing subsection, and a body to whom any such directions are given shall comply therewith.
(3)This section shall have effect in Scotland as if—
(a)any reference to Boards of Governors of teaching hospitals were omitted;
(b)for any reference to a Hospital Management Committee there were substituted a reference to a Board of Management;
(c)for any reference to the Dental Estimates Board there were substituted a reference to the Scottish Dental Estimates Board;
(d)for any reference to section 31(4) of the 1946 Act there were substituted a reference to section 32(4) of the 1947 Act.