The Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) Order 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made under section 58 of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 to, the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c.32) and comes into force on the day after it is made.

This Order provides for certain functions under the Mental Health Act 1983 (c.20) (“the 1983 Act”) and the National Health Service Act 2006 (c.41) (“the 2006 Act”) to be transferred to the Welsh Ministers.

Article 2 of this Order transfers functions under section 86 of the 1983 Act, so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, to the Welsh Ministers, except in relation to a patient who is subject to a restriction order or direction made under Part 3 of that Act. Section 86 enables the Secretary of State to authorise the removal to any country abroad of certain detained patients who do not have a right of abode in this country and who are receiving in-patient treatment for mental illness. Section 86(3) of that Act provides that the exercise of this function is subject to the approval of a Mental Health Review Tribunal.

Article 2 also transfers functions under section 259 of, and Schedule 21 to, the 2006 Act, so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, to the Welsh Ministers. Section 259 makes it an offence to sell goodwill in medical practices. Schedule 21 provides that any person proposing to be a party to a transaction or series of transactions which he considers might amount to a sale of the goodwill of a medical practice in contravention of section 259 may ask the Secretary of State for a certificate. The Secretary of State must consider the application and if satisfied that the transaction or series of transactions does not involve the giving of valuable consideration in respect of the goodwill of such a medical practice, issue a certificate to that effect. Schedule 21 further provides that a prosecution for an offence may only be instituted by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Secretary of State must, if requested, provide a copy of any certificate issued by him and copies of any documents produced in connection with the application for a certificate.

Article 3 excludes the transfer to the Welsh Ministers of documentary or electronic records connected with functions included in this Order, which would otherwise take place by operation of paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the Government of Wales Act 2006.