3Licensing authority
(1)For the purposes of this Part, the Welsh Ministers must by order—
(a)designate one person as the licensing authority for the whole of Wales, or
(b)designate different persons as licensing authorities for different areas of Wales specified in the order, provided that each area has no more than one licensing authority and that all of the areas taken together comprise the whole of Wales.
(2)The Welsh Ministers—
(a)may only designate a person who exercises functions of a public nature wholly or mainly in relation to Wales;
(b)may designate themselves;
(c)may not designate a Minister of the Crown.
(3)The Welsh Ministers may by order make any provision they consider necessary or expedient in connection with the designation of a person under this section.
(4)Before making an order under subsection, the Welsh Ministers must consult any person whom they propose to designate (except themselves) and such other persons as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.