Health and Social Care Act 2012

18 Regulations as to the exercise by local authorities of certain public health functions

(1) After section 6B of the National Health Service Act 2006 insert—

“Regulations as to the exercise of functions

6C Regulations as to the exercise by local authorities of certain public health functions

(1) Regulations may require a local authority to exercise any of the public health functions of the Secretary of State (so far as relating to the health of the public in the authority’s area) by taking such steps as may be prescribed.

(2) Regulations may require a local authority to exercise its public health functions by taking such steps as may be prescribed.

(3) Where regulations under subsection (1) require a local authority to exercise any of the public health functions of the Secretary of State, the regulations may also authorise or require the local authority to exercise any prescribed functions of the Secretary of State that are exercisable in connection with those functions (including the powers conferred by section 12).

(4) The making of regulations under subsection (1) does not prevent the Secretary of State from taking any step that a local authority is required to take under the regulations.

(5) Any rights acquired, or liabilities (including liabilities in tort) incurred, in respect of the exercise by a local authority of any of its functions under regulations under subsection (1) are enforceable by or against the local authority (and no other person).

(6) In this section, “local authority” has the same meaning as in section 2B.”

(2) In section 272 of that Act (orders, regulations, rules and directions), in subsection (6) after paragraph (zza) insert—

“(zzb) regulations under section 6C(1) or (2),”.