54 Directions to Boards by appropriate Minister.E+W+S
(1)The appropriate Minister, after consultation with a Rural Development Board, may give to the Board such directions of a general character with respect to the performance of any functions of the Board as appear to him to be requisite in the public interest.
(2)The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State may, as respects such of a Board’s books, records and accounts as appear to him to be ones in respect of which, having regard to his relationship with the Board, it is reasonable to give such a direction, direct that they shall be kept available by the Board at all reasonable times for inspection by him or on his behalf or by or on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
(3)A Board’s report for any year under the last foregoing section shall set out any directions given by the appropriate Minister under subsection (1) of this section to the Board during that year, unless the appropriate Minister has notified the Board his opinion that it is against the interests of national security to do so.
(4)It shall be the duty of the Board to comply with any directions given by the appropriate Minister under this section.
(5)In this section “the appropriate Minister” means, in relation to Wales, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales acting jointly.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 54(3) functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))