12 November 2009
329.This section allows the Secretary of State to give directions to the Chief Executive about what overarching objectives he or she should be seeking to achieve in performing the functions of the office, and by when. This section also allows the Secretary of State to intervene if he or she considers that the Chief Executive has failed to discharge a statutory duty or has acted or is proposing to act unreasonably in the exercise of his or her functions.
330.Directions under the section may not relate to the funding of specific individuals or individual bodies. This is to ensure that the Chief Executive has responsibility for funding decisions, without influence from the Secretary of State.