Universities and College Estates Act 1925

21 General power to effect any transaction under an order of the Minister

(1) Any transaction affecting or concerning land belonging to a university or college, or any other land, not otherwise authorised by this Act, which in the opinion of the Minister would be for the benefit of land belonging to the university or college, may, under an order of the Minister, be effected by a university or college: Provided that the transaction is one which could have been validly effected by an absolute owner.

(2) In this section " transaction" includes any sale, extinguishment of manorial incidents, exchange, assurance, grant, lease, surrender, reconveyance, release, reservation, or other disposition, and any purchase or other acquisition, and any covenant, contract, or option, and any application of capital money (except as hereinafter mentioned), and any compromise or other dealing, or arrangement; but does not include an application of capital money in payment for any improvement not authorised by this Act; and " effected " has the meaning appropriate to a particular transaction; and the references to land extend and apply to restrictions and burdens affecting land.

(3) If a question arises or a doubt is entertained as to the intended exercise by a university or college of any power conferred by this Act, the university or college or any other person interested, may apply to the Minister for his decision, opinion, advice or directions thereon, or for the sanction of the Minister to any conditional contract for such exercise, and the Minister may make such order as he thinks fit.