An Act to unite Wye College with the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine; to transfer all rights, properties, assets and liabilities from Wye College to the said Imperial College; and for connected purposes.
[30th June 1999]
WHEREAS—
The Imperial College of Science and Technology was established by Royal Charter in 1907, combining the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines and the City and Guilds College, for the purpose of giving the highest specialised instruction, and providing the fullest equipment for the most advanced training and research in various branches of science, especially in its application to industry:
The Imperial College of Science and Technology became a School of the University of London in 1908:
On 22nd June 1988, the Royal Charter of the Imperial College of Science and Technology was amended by Order in Council to change the name of the body to the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (“Imperial College”) with the purpose, inter alia, of carrying on the work of St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School:
By the [1988 c.xxiv.] Imperial College Act 1988, which came into effect on 1st August 1988, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School became united with Imperial College:
By the [1997 c.ii.] Imperial College Act 1997, which came into effect on 1st August 1997, the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School and the Royal Postgraduate Medical School became united with Imperial College:
On 24th June 1998 the said Royal Charter of 1907 was replaced by a new Royal Charter making modern provision for the governance of Imperial College with effect from 1st October 1998:
The College of St. Gregory and St. Martin at Wye was founded in 1447 as a religious house and was dissolved in 1545, after which the site continued to be used for educational purposes, becoming a grammar school in 1627:
The Grammar School at Wye continued until 1894 when the South Eastern Agricultural College was established on the site:
The South Eastern Agricultural College became a school of the University of London in 1898 and in 1946 the said College entered into association with the Horticultural College for Women, Swanley:
On 13th September 1948 those associated bodies were incorporated by Royal Charter as The College of St. Gregory and St. Martin at Wye generally known as “Wye College” having the objects among others of providing for persons of both sexes instruction and means of research in all or any of the subjects relating to the practice and science of agriculture and horticulture comprised in the Faculty of Science of the University of London and in such other subjects of or cognate to a University Education in Agriculture and Horticulture as may be decided upon from time to time by the Governing Body of Wye College:
The work of teaching and research carried on by Imperial College and Wye College respectively is in many respects complementary and it is desirable that that work should be enhanced by the unification of those bodies:
Imperial College and Wye College have agreed that it is expedient that they should be united as one college in accordance with the provisions of this Act:
It is expedient that the other provisions contained in this Act should be enacted:
The objects of this Act cannot be attained without the authority of Parliament:
May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
This Act may be cited as the Imperial College Act 1999.
In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings:—
“the appointed day” means such day as may be agreed by Imperial College and Wye College under section 3 (Appointed day) of this Act;
“the charter” means the charter incorporating Wye College granted by His Late Majesty King George VI on 13th September 1948;
“the Council” means the Council of Imperial College;
“Imperial College” means the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine;
“the registrar” has the meaning given in section 744 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985.
(1)Imperial College and Wye College may agree a day to be the appointed day for the purposes of this Act.
(2)Not less than 14 days before any such day as may be agreed under subsection (1) above, Imperial College shall—
(a)give notice to the Council of the University of London of the day so agreed; and
(b)publish in the London Gazette a notice stating the day so agreed.
(1)On the appointed day Wye College shall be dissolved and the charter shall be revoked.
(2)Imperial College shall notify the registrar of the effect of section 10 (Restriction on use of certain names) of this Act within 14 days beginning with the date on which this Act is passed.
All property, real and personal, of every description (including things in action) and all rights and privileges of Wye College which immediately before the appointed day belonged to or were vested in or exercisable by Wye College shall on the appointed day, without any conveyance, transfer, assignment or other instrument, be transferred to and vested in, or be exercisable by, Imperial College for all the estate and interest therein of Wye College.
All debts and obligations of Wye College existing immediately before the appointed day shall, on the appointed day, be transferred and attached to Imperial College and shall thereafter be discharged and satisfied by Imperial College.
All agreements, appointments, awards, contracts, deeds and other instruments, and all actions and proceedings and causes of action which immediately before the appointed day were existing or pending in favour of, or against, Wye College shall on and after the appointed day continue and may be carried into effect, enforced and prosecuted by, or in favour of, or against, Imperial College to the same extent and in the like manner as if Imperial College instead of Wye College had been a party to, or interested in, the same.
(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, any scheme, will, deed or other instrument, whether made or executed before, on or after the appointed day which contains any bequest, gift, trust or other benefit in favour of or connected with Wye College shall, on and after the appointed day, be read and have effect as if Imperial College were named therein instead of Wye College.
(2)Imperial College shall administer any bequest, gift, trust or other benefit referred to in subsection (1) above as nearly as may be for the purposes intended in the original scheme, will, deed or other instrument conferring such a benefit.
Any power or right of Wye College or of any officer or employee thereof to appoint or nominate a member of any education authority, or of the governing body of any educational, charitable or other institution, shall on the appointed day be transferred to, and may be exercised by, Imperial College or the officer or employee of Imperial College who in the opinion of the Council most nearly performs the functions formerly performed by the former officer or employee in question.
(1)No person other than Imperial College shall, within a period of 25 years beginning with the date on which this Act is passed, use either of the names mentioned in subsection (2) below without the consent of Imperial College.
(2)The names referred to in subsection (1) above are—
(a)Wye College; and
(b)The College of St. Gregory and St. Martin at Wye.