3 Central Authorities.U.K.
(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, the functions under the Convention of a Central Authority shall be discharged—
(a)in England and Wales F1... by the Lord Chancellor; and
(b)in Scotland by the Secretary of State[F2; and
(c)in Northern Ireland by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland]
(2)Any application made under the Convention by or on behalf of a person outside the United Kingdom may be addressed to the Lord Chancellor as the Central Authority in the United Kingdom.
[F3(3)Where any such application relates to a function to be discharged under subsection (1) above by an authority (“the responsible authority”) other than the authority to which the application is addressed, the authority to which the application is addressed shall transmit it to the responsible authority.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 3(1)(a) omitted (12.4.2010) by virtue of The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 18 para. 36(a) (with arts. 28-31)
F2S. 3(1)(c) and word inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 18 para. 36(b) (with arts. 28-31)
F3S. 3(3) substituted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 18 para. 36(c) (with arts. 28-31)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 3 applied (with modifications) (1.3.1997) by S.I. 1996/3156, art. 2, Sch.
S. 3 applied (with modifications) (2.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/2574, art. 2, Sch.