For section 17A (Health Authority’s directions: distribution of functions) there is substituted—

“17AStrategic Health Authority’s directions: distribution of functions

(1)

A Strategic Health Authority may, in relation to any specified functions of theirs, direct a Primary Care Trust any part of whose area falls within their area to exercise those functions.

(2)

But a Strategic Health Authority may not so direct a Primary Care Trust in relation to any functions of the Strategic Health Authority arising under section 28C arrangements if the Primary Care Trust is providing any services in accordance with those arrangements.

(3)

The Secretary of State may direct Strategic Health Authorities that specified functions of theirs—

(a)

are to be exercisable, or exercisable to (or only to) any specified extent, by Primary Care Trusts; or

(b)

are not to be exercisable by Primary Care Trusts,

and that the power in subsection (1) above is to be exercised accordingly.

(4)

Directions under subsection (3)(a) above may include directions that any of the specified functions are to be exercised (or exercised to or only to any specified extent) jointly with the Strategic Health Authority, or jointly by one or more Primary Care Trusts; but such directions may be given only if regulations providing for the joint exercise of those functions have been made under section 16 or 16B above.

(5)

In this section, “specified” means specified in the directions.”