Stock Transfer Act 1982
1982 CHAPTER 41
An Act to amend the law relating to the transfer, registration and redemption of securities, and for purposes connected therewith.
[30th July, 1982]

1 Transfer of certain securities through a computerised system.
(1) In the exercise of the appropriate power (as defined in subsection (3) below) provision may be made permitting a transfer in certain cases of specified securities to which the power extends through the medium of a computer-based system to be established by the Bank of England and The Stock Exchange.
(2) A transfer which (pursuant to any provision made under the appropriate power) is effected as mentioned in subsection (1) above is in this Act referred to as an “exempt transfer” and, notwithstanding anything in any enactment or in any prospectus or other document relating to the terms of issue, holding or transfer of specified securities, an exempt transfer shall be effective without the need for an instrument in writing.
(3) In this section “the appropriate power” means the power to make regulations or orders under—
(a) section 47 of the Finance Act 1942 (Government stock) or section 11(1)(c) of the Exchequer and Financial Provisions Act (Northern Ireland) 1950 (Northern Ireland Exchequer stock); or
1942 c. 21.
1950 c. 3 (N.I.)
(b) paragraph 4 of Schedule 13 to the Local Government Act 1972..., paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 or section 70 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (local authority stocks); or
Words commencing “section 43” substituted (E.W.S.) for words commencing “paragraph 4” by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 194(1), Sch. 11 para. 59
1972 c. 70.
Words in s. 1(3)(b) repealed (27.11.2003 for W. for the purpose of and in relation to financial years beginning on or after 1.4.2004, 1.4.2004 for E.) by Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26), s. 128(6), Sch. 7 para. 6, Sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.I. 2003/2938, art. 7(a)(e)(ii) (with art. 8, Sch.); S.I. 2003/3034, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I
1975 c. 30.
1972 c. 9 (N.I.)
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(electricity stock); or
Words repealed by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(4), Sch. 18
Words in s. 1(3)(c) repealed (N.I.) (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 95(4), Sch.14; S.R. 1992/117, art. 3(1).
(d) section 21(2) of the Gas Act 1972 (British Gas Stock); or
S. 1(3)(d) repealed (E.W.S.) by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(3)(4), Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 17, Sch. 9 Pt. II
1972 c. 60.
(e) subsection (4) below.
(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, with respect to any specified securities to which none of the provisions referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (3) above applies, the Treasury may by regulations under this subsection make the provision referred to in subsection (1) above; and any such regulations shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(5) No provision shall be made, in the exercise of the appropriate power, for the application of the procedure of an exempt transfer to any securities or securities of any class except with the agreement of the person issuing the securities or, as the case may be, securities of that class or, if the liability for those securities or securities of that class has vested in another person, of that other person.

2 Specified securities.
(1) In this Act “specified securities” means, subject to subsection (2) below, securities for the time being specified in the list in Schedule 1 to this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding that a security may at any time be specified as mentioned in subsection (1) above, it is not at that time a specified security for the purposes of this Act if, on a transfer of it at that time effected by a written instrument, that instrument would be liable to stamp duty.
(3) The Treasury may from time to time, after consultation with the Bank of England, by order—
(a) add a security or class of securities to the list in Schedule 1 to this Act; or
(b) remove a security or class of securities from that list (whether the security or class of securities was included in the list as originally enacted or was added by virtue of this subsection).
(4) The power to make an order under subsection (3) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

3 Regulations and amendments relating to the computerised system and exempt transfers.
(1) The Treasury may by regulations made by statutory instrument make provision in connection with the operation of the system referred to in section 1(1) above.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, but subject to any express provision made by or by virtue of any amendment contained in Schedule 2 to this Act, regulations under subsection (1) above may provide—
(a) that, for the purposes of any provision made by or under any enactment or contained in any prospectus or other document and requiring or relating to the lodging or deposit of any instrument of transfer, notification of an exempt transfer in the manner required by the regulations is to be regarded as lodging or depositing an instrument of the transfer concerned; and
(b) that, in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations, certificates or other documents of or evidencing title to specified securities are or are not to be issued to persons who (by virtue of their participation in the system referred to in section 1(1) above) are or have been able to transfer such securities by exempt transfers.
(3) The amendments specified in Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect in consequence of the preceding provisions of this Act.
(4) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument repeal or amend any provision of—
(a) any local Act passed before or in the same session as this Act (including an Act confirming a provisional order), or
(b) any order or other instrument made under an Act so passed,
if it appears to him that the provision has become unneccessary or requires alteration in consequence of any of the preceding provisions of this Act.
(5) A statutory instrument made in the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (1) or subsection (4) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 4 repealed by Finance Act 1989 (c. 26, SIF 99:3), s. 187(1), Sch. 17 Pt. XII, note and expressed to be repealed (20.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1446, art. 30(2), Sch. 2 Pt.I

5 Custody and destruction of documents relating to local authority stocks and bonds.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 5(1) repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 194(2), Sch. 12 Pt. I
(2) After paragraph 5(1)(d) of Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (the equivalent power as regards Scotland) there shall be inserted—

“(dd) make provision for the custody and, where appropriate, eventual destruction of documents relating to any such stocks or bonds”.

1975 c. 30.

6 Short title, commencement and extent.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Stock Transfer Act 1982.
(2) Sections 4 to 6 of this Act shall come into force at the expiry of the period of three months beginning on the day on which this Act is passed and the remaining provisions of this Act shall come into force on such later day as may be specified by the Treasury by order made by statutory instrument.
(3) This Act extends to Northern Ireland . . .
Words repealed by Finance Act 1987 (c. 16, SIF 99:6), s. 72, Sch. 16 Pt. XI

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 SPECIFIED SECURITIES
Section 2.
1 (1) Securities issued by Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom or the Government of Northern Ireland, not being excluded securities.
(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above “excluded securities” means—
(a) securities in respect of which a stock certificate issued under Part V of the National Debt Act 1870 is for the time being outstanding;
1870 c. 71.
(b) any other bearer securities; and
(c) any securities for the time being registered on the National Savings Stock Register.
2 Securities the payment of interest on which is guaranteed by Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom or the Government of Northern Ireland.
3 Securities issued in the United Kingdom by any public authority or nationalised industry or undertaking in the United Kingdom.
4 (1) Securities issued in the United Kingdom by the government of any overseas territory, being securities registered in the United Kingdom.
(2) For this purpose—
(a) “overseas territory” means any territory or country outside the United Kingdom, and
(b) the reference to the government of any overseas territory includes a reference to a government constituted for two or more overseas territories, and to any authority established for the purpose of providing or administering services which are common to, or relate to matters of common interest to, two or more such territories.
Sch. 1 para. 4(2) substituted (17.6.2002) by 2002 c. 1, s. 19, Sch. 3 para. 8; S.I. 2002/1408, art. 2
5 Securities issued in the United Kingdom by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Investment Bank or the European Union being, in each case, securities registered in the United Kingdom.
Securities issued in the United Kingdom by the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Caisse Centrale de Coopération Economique, Crédit Foncier de France, Electricité de France (E.D.F.), Service National or Hydro-Québec, being, in each case, securities registered in the United Kingdom.
Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 4 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))
Securities added to the list in Schedule 1 by S.I. 1988/231, art. 2, Sch.
6 (1) Debentures issued by the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation PLC, the Commonwealth Development Finance Company Limited, Finance for Industry Public Limited Company or the Scottish Agricultural Securities Corporation Limited.
(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above “debentures” includes debenture stock and bonds, whether constituting a charge on assets or not, and loan stock or notes.
7 (1) Securities issued by—
(a) any local authority in the United Kingdom;
(b) any authority all or the majority of the members of which are appointed or elected by one or more local authorities in the United Kingdom; or
Word in Sch. 1 para. 7(1)(b) inserted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 41(a); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
(ba) any police and crime commissioner.
Sch. 1 para. 7(1)(ba) substituted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 158; S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(i)
(bb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 1 para. 7(1)(bb) and word repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 41(b), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 1013(p)
(c) the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District.
S. 7(1)(c) and the word “or”immediately preceding it cease to have effect (3.7.2000) by virtue of 1999 c. 29, s. 392(2) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above “local authority” means—
(a) any of the following authorities in England and Wales, namely, the Greater London Authoritya county council . . . , a district council, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London , a functional body (within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999), . . . a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 , an economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, a combined authority established under section 103 of that Act , a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 ... or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
Words in Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) inserted (8.5.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 392(1)(3)(a) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3
Words repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 102, Sch. 17
Words in Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 392(1)(3)(b) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4
Words inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 62
Words repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 13
Words in Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) inserted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 13 para. 39; S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(p)
Words in Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) inserted (17.12.2009) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(6), Sch. 6 para. 57; S.I. 2009/3318, art. 2(c)
Words in Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) inserted (26.12.2023) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), s. 255(2)(c), Sch. 4 para. 73 (with s. 247)
Words in Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) omitted (26.5.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(7), Sch. 13 para. 6(17); S.I. 2015/994, art. 6(g)
(b) any council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 127; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)
(c) a council, within the meaning of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972;
1972 c. 9 (N.I.)
and any reference to a security issued by a local authority includes a reference to a security the liability for which is for the time being vested in a local authority (being a security issued by an authority which has ceased to exist).

SCHEDULE 2 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
Section 3.

Forged Transfers Act 1891
1 (1) In subsection (1) of section 1 of the Forged Transfers Act 1891 (power for companies and local authorities to make compensation for losses arising from forged transfers)—
(a) after the words “transferable by an instrument in writing” there shall be inserted the words “ or by an exempt transfer, within the meaning of the Stock Transfer Act 1982 ” ; and
(b) for the words “forged transfer” there shall be substituted the words “ forged instrument ” ; and
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 2 para. 1(1)(c) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 9 Group 6
(2) At the end of that subsection there shall be added the following subsection :—

“(1A) in subsection (1) above “instrument” has the same meaning as in Part I of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.”

1891 c. 43.

Finance Act 1942
2 In subsection (1) of section 47 of the Finance Act 1942 (Treasury regulations governing the transfer and registration of Government stock)—
(a) in paragraph (a), after the words “by instruments in writing” there shall be inserted the words “ or otherwise ” ; and
(b) in paragraph (c), after the word “issue” there shall be inserted the words “ except in such cases as appear to the Treasury to be appropriate ”.
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 2 para. 3 repealed by Finance Act 1987 (c. 16, SIF 99:6), s. 72, Sch. 16 Pt. XI
4, 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 2 paras. 4, 5 repealed by Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985 (c. 9, SIF 27), ss. 21, 23, 29, 31(8), Sch. 1
1942 c. 21.

Colonial Stock Act 1948
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 2 para. 6 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. IV Group1
7, 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 2 paras. 7, 8 repealed by S.I. 1986/1035 (N.I. 9), art. 24, Sch. 2
1948 c. 1. (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6.).

Act partly in force at Royal Assent see s. 6(2); Act wholly in force 23.7.1985
The text of ss. 3(3) and 5(2) is in the form in which it was originally enacted : it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
The text of ss. 3(3) and 5(2) is in the form in which it was originally enacted : it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
Power of appointment conferred by s. 6(2) fully exercised: 23.7.1985 appointed by S.I. 1985/1137, art. 2
Sch. 1 amended (further specified securities added) by S.I. 1991/340, art.2 Sch.
Sch. 1 para. 7 amended by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 57(7), Sch. 13 para. 13(k)
Sch. 1 para. 7 extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, s. 39, Sch. 13 para. 20(j) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 para. 22(1), 23(2))
Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 4(v)
Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a) amended by S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 8(p)
The text of Schedule 2 is in the form in which it was originally enacted : it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and, except as specified, does reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
S. 1: for previous exercises of this power see Index to Government Orders.
S. 1(1)(4): power exercised by S.I. 1991/1145.
S. 2: for exercise of power, see Index to Government Orders.
S. 2(3): power exercised by S.I. 1991/340.