National Health Service Act 1977

[F1 18 Directions and regulations under preceding provisions. E+W+S

(1) Any directions given by the Secretary of State under section 16D, 17 or 17A above shall be given by regulations or by an instrument in writing.

(1A) But any directions given by him—

(a) under section 16D above about functions under section 4 above;

(b) under section 17A(4) above about functions relating to general medical services; or

(c) under section 16D, 17 or 17A above about functions conferred on the Secretary of State by section 20(1) or (2) below,

shall be given by regulations.

(1B) Directions given by a Health Authority under section 17A or 17B above shall be given by an instrument in writing.]

F2 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Directions given and regulations made under sections [F3 16 to 17B above] in respect of any function—

(a) shall not, except in prescribed cases, preclude [F4 an authority or a] person by whom the function is exercisable apart from the directions or regulations from exercising the function, and

(b) may in the case of directions given by an instrument in writing be varied or revoked by subsequent directions given in pursuance of those sections and this section (without prejudice to the operation of [F5 section 14 of the M1 Interpretation Act 1978] in the case of directions given by regulations),

F6 . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 18: cross-heading, sidenote and subsections (1)-(1B) substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E. and otherwise prosp.) for s. 18 down to the end of subsection (1) by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(3); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1)(3), Schs. 1, 2; S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3)

F2 S. 18(2) omitted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) and repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 5(1)(2), 8(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 9(b), Sch. 3 (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)

F3 Words in s. 18(3) substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(4); S.I. 1999/2343, art. 2(1)(3), Schs. 1, 2; S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3)

F4 Words in s. 18(3) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 9(c)(ii) (with Sch. 2 para. 6)

F5 Words substituted by virtue of Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30, SIF 115:1), s. 17(2)(a)

F6 Words in s. 18(3) repealed (28.6.1995) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 3(8)(10), 5(1), Sch. 3 (with Sch. 2 para. 6s, 16)

Marginal Citations

M1 1978 c. 30(115:1).