2.—(1) There shall be a single coroner’s district for the county of Blackburn (which county comes into existence on 1st April 1998 by virtue of article 6(2) of the 1996 Order) and for so much of the county of Lancashire as is included in the existing Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley Coroner’s District.
(2) The council of the borough of Blackburn shall be the relevant council for the purposes of the 1988 Act for the coroner’s district constituted by paragraph (1) above.
(3) The person who, on 31st March 1998, is the coroner for the existing Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley Coroner’s District by virtue of having been appointed for or assigned to that district shall be deemed to have been appointed coroner for the coroner’s district constituted by paragraph (1) above by the council of the borough of Blackburn.
(4) Any agreement between the person to whom paragraph (3) above applies and the council of the county of Lancashire (as the relevant council for the purposes of the 1988 Act prior to 1st April 1998) as to his salary and pension as a coroner shall have effect as if made between him and the council of the borough of Blackburn.
(5) Any person who, on 31st March 1998, is a deputy or assistant deputy coroner for the existing Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley Coroner’s District shall be deemed to have been appointed deputy or, as the case may be, assistant deputy coroner for the coroner’s district constituted by paragraph (1) above with the approval of the chairman of the council of the borough of Blackburn.