This Order provides for the establishment and constitution of a Special Health Authority under section 28 of the National Health Service Act 2006, to be known as the National Health Service Trust Development Authority (“the Authority”), to exercise such of the Secretary of State’s functions in connection with the performance management and development of National Health Service trusts in England, and the making of certain public appointments to NHS bodies in England and of their trustees, and such other functions as the Secretary of State may direct.

Article 2 of the Order establishes the Authority, the functions of which are described in article 3 and are to be specified more particularly in directions given by the Secretary of State to the Authority.

Article 4 provides for the constitution of the authority.

Article 5 provides for the transfer to the Authority of property necessary for the Authority to carry out its functions, and Article 6 transfers staff of the Appointments Commission to the Authority.

Article 7 provides that the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 applies to the Authority so that meetings of the Authority are open to the public.

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS and is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk