(1)There shall be a body corporate, to be called the British Airways Board (and hereafter in this Act referred to as " the Board "), which shall be constituted in accordance with the following provisions of this Part of this Act and shall have the functions conferred on it by or under those provisions.
(2)The Board shall consist of not less than eight nor more than fifteen persons appointed by the Secretary of State to be members of the Board; and the Secretary of State—
(a)shall appoint one member to be the chairman of the Board; and
(b)may appoint one or more other members to be a deputy chairman or deputy chairmen of the Board.
(3)The provisions of Schedule 8 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Board.
(4)It is hereby declared that the Board is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown, or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown, or (subject to the provisions of this Act relating to stamp duty) as exempt from any tax, duty, rate, levy or other charge whatsoever, whether general or local, and that its property is not to be regarded as property of or held on behalf of the Crown.
(5)In Part II of Schedule 1 to the [1957 c. 20.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957, as it applies in relation to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, after the entry relating to the British Airports Authority there shall be inserted the words "The British Airways Board"; and in the Part substituted for the said Part II by Schedule 3 to that Act in relation to the Senate and House of Commons of Northern Ireland, after the entry relating to the Attendance Allowance Board for Northern Ireland there shall be inserted the words aforesaid.