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Statutory Instruments

1999 No. 672

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

DEVOLUTION, WALES

The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999

Made

10th March 1999

Coming into force

1st July 1999

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of March 1999

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Whereas the draft of this Order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament:

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in pursuance of sections 22, 24(1), 42(4), 44(5), 96(7), 144(6), 146(4), 147(3), 151(2) and 155(2) of, and paragraphs 1 to 4, 6(3), 7, 8 and 9 of Schedule 3 to, the Government of Wales Act 1998(1), is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows—

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999.

(2) This Order shall come into force on 1st July 1999 immediately after the coming into force of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998(2) but, if that section does not come into force on 1st July 1999, this Order shall come into force on that date.

(3) In this Order—

“the 1965 transfer order” means the Secretary of State for Wales and Minister of Land and Natural Resources Order 1965(3);

“the 1969 transfer order” means the Transfer of Functions (Wales) Order 1969(4);

“the 1978 transfer order” means the Transfer of Functions (Wales) (No. 1) Order 1978(5);

“the Act” means the Government of Wales Act 1998;

“the Assembly” means the National Assembly for Wales;

“the catchment areas of the rivers Dee, Wye and Severn” means the areas delineated by a continuous red line on the map published by the Environment Agency (but not part of this Order) on 10th February 1999 and marked “Map indicating the catchment areas of the rivers Dee, Wye and Severn for the purposes of the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999—map reference EAW/TFO.1(1—7)”.

Transfer of functions

2.  Schedule 1 to this Order shall have effect as follows—

(a)except as provided in sub-paragraphs (b)-(f), all functions of a Minister of the Crown under the enactments specified in Schedule 1 are, so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, transferred to the Assembly;

(b)where so directed in Schedule 1 functions exercisable by a Minister of the Crown shall, so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, be exercisable by the Assembly concurrently with the Minister;

(c)it is directed that (except in the case of functions which are exercisable by the Assembly “jointly” with a Minister of the Crown) functions under any of the enactments specified in Schedule 1 which are exercisable by a Minister of the Crown in relation to a cross-border body but which, by their nature, are not functions which can be specifically exercised in relation to Wales, shall be exercisable by the Assembly in relation to that body concurrently with the Minister of the Crown;

(d)where so indicated in Schedule 1, functions of a Minister of the Crown under the enactments specified therein are transferred to the Assembly in relation to Wales (or such part of Wales as may be specified) together with such English border area as is specified;

(e)Schedule 1 does not transfer any power under which provisions of an Act of Parliament may be brought into force by order made by a Minister of the Crown;

(f)Schedule 1 does not transfer any functions of the Lord Chancellor or the Attorney General;

(g)functions of the Comptroller and Auditor General shall, as indicated in Schedule 1, be transferred to, or become functions also of, the Auditor General for Wales;

(h)all other provisions contained in Schedule 1 in relation to the enactments specified therein shall have effect.

3.  Any reference in this Order to a function of a Minister of the Crown under an enactment includes a reference to any functions of that Minister which are included in any scheme, regulations, rules, order, bye-laws or other instrument having effect under or in relation to that enactment, and the power to confer functions on that Minister by any such scheme, regulations, rules, order, bye-laws or other instrument shall have effect as a power to confer such functions on the Assembly.

4.—(1) This article applies where—

(a)any function under an enactment is expressly required to be exercised by two or more Ministers of the Crown acting “jointly”, and

(b)any transfer in respect thereof in this Order does not transfer to the Assembly the functions of all such Ministers of the Crown.

(2) Where this article applies, section 42 of the Act shall not have effect to allow the function to be exercised by the Assembly otherwise than in accordance with the joint action requirement.

Minister of the Crown functions exercisable with Assembly agreement or consultation

5.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this article, it is directed that functions exercisable by a Minister of the Crown under the enactments specified in Schedule 2 to this Order shall, so far as they are exercisable in relation to Wales and as specified in the said Schedule, be exercisable by the Minister only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, the Assembly.

(2) In respect of the enactments referred to in paragraph 4(1)(a) and (b) of Schedule 3 to the Act, paragraph (1) of this article shall have effect not in respect of functions exercisable in relation to Wales but in respect of functions exercisable in relation to “Welsh controlled waters” as defined in paragraph 4(2) of the said Schedule 3.

The sea adjacent to Wales

6.  For the purposes of the definition of “Wales” in the Act the boundary between those parts of the sea within the Severn and Dee Estuaries which are to be treated as adjacent to Wales and those which are not shall be, in each case, a line drawn between the co-ordinates set out in Schedule 3 to this Order.

Transfer of property

7.  The provisions of section 23(1) of the Act shall not apply to—

(a)the premises comprising Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London and the furnishings and equipment contained therein, or to any rights or liabilities relating thereto,

(b)any documentary or electronic records.

A.K. Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council

Article 2

SCHEDULE 1Enactments Conferring Functions Transferred by Article 2

Public General Acts

Local and Private Acts

Statutory Instruments

Article 5

SCHEDULE 2Enactments Subject to Constraint on Ministerial Exercise

Copyright Act 1911 c. 46

The function of the Secretary of State under section 15(5) shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

Forestry Act 1967 c. 10

The function of “the Treasury” under paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 1 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Sex Discrimination Act 1975 c. 65

The function of the Secretary of State under section 53(1) of making appointments to the Equal Opportunities Commission shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly so far as necessary to ensure that there is at all times one Commissioner who has been appointed with the agreement of the Assembly.

Race Relations Act 1976 c. 74

The function of the Secretary of State under section 43(1) of making appointments to the Commission for Racial Equality shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly so far as necessary to ensure that there is at all times one Commissioner who has been appointed with the agreement of the Assembly.

Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 c. 65

The function of the Secretary of State under paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 31 shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

Industrial Development Act 1982 c. 52

The functions of the Secretary of State under section 8(5) and (7) shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

The functions of the Secretary of State under section 15, so far as a report required to be made under this section relates to functions of the Assembly under this Act, shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

Mental Health Act 1983 c. 20

The function of the Lord Chancellor under paragraph 1(b) and (c) of Schedule 2 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Registered Homes Act 1984 c. 23

The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 43 and 45 shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

The functions of the Secretary of State under section 44 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 c. 27

The functions of “the Ministers” under section 81(2) shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 c. 48

To the extent that functions exercisable under sections 8 and 10(1) relate to the abandonment of an “offshore installation” as defined in section 44 of the Petroleum Act 1988 (c. 17), such functions shall be exercisable by a Minister of the Crown only after consultation with the Assembly.

Environmental Protection Act 1990 c. 43

The function of the Secretary of State under paragraph 7(3) of Schedule 7 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Water Resources Act 1991 c. 57

The function of the Secretary of State under section 82 shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

Further and Higher Education Act 1992 c. 13

The function of the Secretary of State under sections 1(7), 62(8) and 82 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Local Government Finance Act 1992 c. 14

The function of the Secretary of State under section 1(3) shall, as regards a dwelling part only of which falls within the area of a Welsh billing authority, be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

Transport and Works Act 1992 c. 42

The order, rule and regulation-making functions of the Secretary of State under sections 1, 3, 6, 7(4), 8, 10 and 15 shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

National Lottery etc. Act 1993 c. 39

The functions specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of the entry in relation to this Act in Schedule 1 which are to be exercisable by the Assembly concurrently with the Secretary of State, shall, to the extent that they are so exercisable by the Secretary of State, be exercisable by him only after consultation with the Assembly.

The functions under the following provisions shall be exercisable by the Secretary of State only with the agreement of the Assembly—

(a)sections 26(3) and (3A), 29(1) and (3)(b) and 35(3) so far as they relate to the Arts Council of Wales and the Sports Council for Wales;

(b)paragraphs 2(1) and (2) and 7(1) and (2) of Schedule 3A so far as they relate to a joint scheme (other than one in which the only participating bodies are the Arts Council of Wales and the Sports Council for Wales) the area of which includes all or any part of Wales;

(c)paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 5 so far as necessary to ensure that there is at all times one member of the National Lottery Charities Board who has been appointed with agreement of the Assembly;

(d)paragraph 1 of Schedule 6A so far as it relates to the appointment, as a member of the New Opportunities Fund, of a person who appears to the Secretary of State to be suited to make the interests of Wales his special care.

Education Act 1994 c. 30

The function of the Secretary of State under section 3(2) shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

Environment Act 1995 c. 25

The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 41 and 42 so far as relating to the making of regulations and the approval of charging schemes shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Education Act 1996 c. 56

The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 333(5) and (6), 334(2), 335 and 336 shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly.

The regulation-making functions of the Secretary of State under sections 492 to 494 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 492(5), 494(4) and 495, so far as they relate to a dispute to which only one party is in Wales, shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997 c. 24

The function of the Secretary of State under section 19(5), so far as it relates to rules affecting the Board together with one or more other Boards, shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Petroleum Act 1998 c. 17

The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 32(1) and (2), 33(1), 34(1), and (7), 35(1), 37(1) and 39(1) shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Audit Commission Act 1998 c. 18

The functions of the Secretary of State under section 1(2) and under paragraph 4(4) of Schedule 1 shall be exercisable only with the agreement of the Assembly so far as necessary to ensure that, at all material times, one of the persons appointed as a member of the Commission shall have been appointed with the agreement of the Assembly.

The functions of the Secretary of State under section 1(3) and under paragraphs 7(1) and 11(1) of Schedule 1 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Assembly.

Article 6

SCHEDULE 3The Sea Adjacent to Wales

The Severn Estuary

Point No.LatitudeLongitude
1513409N024233W
2513351N024227W
3513230N024252W
4513133N024704W
5512719N025928W
6512530N030133W
7512129N030613W
8512124N030651W
9512058N031102W
10511743N031431W
11511709N031818W
12511917N033846W
13512349N035730W
14512138N042630W
15512416N043703W

The Dee Estuary

Point No.LatitudeLongitude
All positions Ordnance Survey of Great Britain 1936 datum.
1532017N031256W
2532020N031323W
3532104N031441W
4532413N031744W
5532530N032117W
6532707N032430W
7533134N033152W
8533318N033409W

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Article 2 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Order provide for the exercise by the National Assembly for Wales of statutory functions currently vested in Ministers of the Crown. Except as mentioned below in relation to cross-border bodies and English border areas, all functions are vested in the Assembly for exercise in relation to Wales.

The functions which become exercisable by the Assembly in pursuance of this Order are functions under the enactments listed in Schedule 1. Listing is as follows—

Further specific provision is included in Schedule 1, principally in the Public Act entries, to provide for matters including the following—

Article 2(c) provides generally that functions exercisable in relation to a cross-border body which, by their nature are not functions which can be specifically exercised in relation to Wales, are to be exercisable by the Assembly in relation to that body rather than in relation to Wales and are to be exercisable concurrently with the Minister of the Crown by whom they are exercisable.

Article 2(e) excludes from transfer any power under which provisions of an Act may be brought into force by order.

Article 2(f) excludes from transfer any functions of the Lord Chancellor or the Attorney General.

Article 3 provides that the vesting in the Assembly of functions exercisable under any enactment includes functions exercisable by virtue of subordinate legislation made thereunder.

Article 4 provides that section 42 of the Act will not allow a function to be exercised by the Assembly on its own in cases where there is a statutory requirement for joint action which has been preserved by not transferring to the Assembly the function of all the Ministers who are required to act jointly.

Article 5 provides, in pursuance of section 22(1)(c) of the Act, that functions of a Minister of the Crown under the enactments specified in Schedule 2 are to be exercisable in relation to Wales only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, the Assembly. In the particular case of the two enactments referred to in paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Act provision is made, in accordance with that paragraph, for consultation with the Assembly not in respect of functions exercisable in relation to Wales but in respect of functions exercisable in relation to “Welsh controlled waters”.

Article 6 and Schedule 3 determine, in pursuance of section 155(2), the boundaries between those parts of the Severn and Dee Estuaries which are to be treated as adjacent to Wales for the purpose of the definition of Wales, and those which are not.

Article 7 provides for the exclusion of specific property from transfer to the Assembly as would otherwise take place under the transfer provision in section 23.

The map referred to in the definition of “the catchment areas of the rivers Dee, Wye and Severn” in article 1(3) may be inspected during normal working hours at the offices of the Environment Agency at Rivers House, St. Mellons Business Park, St. Mellons, Cardiff.

(2)

1998 c. 46. In terms of article 2(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 (Commencement) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/3178), section 53 comes into force on 1st July 1999.

(15)

S.I. 1989/317 amended by S.I. 1995/3146.

(20)

S.I. 1994/1056 amended by S.I. 1994/1137, 1995/288, 1995/950, 1996/593, 1996/634, 1996/972, 1996/1279, 1997/2203, 1998/606 and the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) s.120(1), Sched. 22, para. 233(1).

(23)

S.I. 1994/2716: relevant amendments made by the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) s.120(1), Sched. 22, para. 233(1), S.I. 1996/525 and 1997/3055. Relevant modifications made by S.I. 1995/2803 and 1996/534.

(24)

S.I. 1994/2740 amended by S.I. 1995/100, 1995/1481, 1995/2778, 1996/27, and revoked with savings by S.I. 1996/1500 reg. 18.

(29)

S.I. 1995/12 amended by S.I. 1995/2922 and 1998/871.

(32)

S.I. 1995/2258 amended by the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25), s.120(1), Sched. 22, para. 233(1).

(33)

S.I. 1996/529 amended by S.I. 1997/568.

(34)

S.I. 1996/696 amended by S.I. 1997/542 and 1998/453.

(36)

S.I. 1996/972 amended by S.I. 1997/251.

(38)

S.I. 1996/1500 amended by S.I. 1997/33 and 1998/206.