Section 137 of the Act of 1968 (which relates to machinery for negotiation and consultation with staff) shall apply to the Executive as if they were the Executive for a designated area within the meaning of section 9(1) of that Act and as if the Council were the Authority for that designated area, except that a copy of any such agreement as is referred to in subsection (2) of the said section 137 entered into by the Executive and of any instrument varying the terms of any such agreement shall be sent to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity as well as to the Council.