This Order is the 11th Commencement Order made under the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (“the Act”), and applies to England only.

Article 2 brings into force, on 1st January 2003, certain provisions in connection with the introduction of pilot schemes for the provision of local pharmaceutical services under section 28 of the Act.

Article 3 brings into force, on 1st January 2003, sections 7 to 11 of the Act (overview and scrutiny committees, and public involvement and consultation), Schedule 1 to the Act (exempt information relating to health services), and paragraph 13 of Schedule 5 to the Act, which relates to the power to make regulations in respect of review and scrutiny committees.

Article 4 brings into force, on 1st February 2003, section 20(6) of the Act, which amends section 42 of the National Health Service Act 1977 concerning the provision of pharmaceutical services under Part II of that Act. It also brings fully into force section 25 of the Act, which had not hitherto been brought into force in relation to the provision of pharmaceutical services. Finally it brings into force as respects pharmaceutical services paragraph 5(14) of Schedule 5 to the Act.