10Conversion of wages councils to statutory joint industrial councils
(1)The Secretary of State may by order made in accordance with the following provisions of this section provide that a wages council shall become a statutory joint industrial council having the functions conferred on statutory joint industrial councils by the provisions of Part III of this Act.
(2)The Secretary of State may make an order under this section with respect to a wages council—
(a)on an application made to him by the employers' association or trade union nominated in relation to the council or by that association and union jointly; or
(b)without an application under paragraph (a) above, but after consultation with the employers' association and trade union so nominated.
(3)An order under this section shall not be made on an application by an employers' association or trade union alone unless the Secretary of State has consulted every employers' association and trade union nominated in relation to the wages council in question and (whether so nominated or not) all organisations of employers and workers which in his opinion represent a substantial proportion of employers and workers respectively in relation to whom that council operates.
(4)The Secretary of State shall before making an order under this section refer the question whether he should do so to the Service, and the Service shall inquire into it and report on that question.
(5)Part I of Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the constitution, officers and proceedings of statutory joint industrial councils and Part II of that Schedule shall have effect with respect to the transition of a wages council to a statutory joint industrial council.