Competent authorityU.K.
This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum
3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the following is a competent authority—
(a)in England, the Secretary of State;
(b)in Wales, the Welsh Ministers;
(c)in Northern Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of the Environment acting alone or jointly.
(2) In relation to matters outside the competence of a devolved administration, the competent authority is the Secretary of State.