1972 c.68. Section 2 was amended by section 27(1)(a) and (b) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51) and the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c.7).
The European Communities (Designation) (No.2) Order 2008 (S.I.2008/1792). Under section 57 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46), despite the transfer to the Scottish Ministers of the functions in relation to the implementation of obligations under European Union law in respect of private international law, the function of the Secretary of State in relation to implementing those obligations continues to be exercisable by the Secretary of State as regards Scotland. Implementation of obligations under European Union law in respect of devolved matters is itself a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. However, the designation of the Secretary of State under the European Communities (Designation) (No.2) Order 2008 in relation to private international law remains exercisable in relation to Northern Ireland. This is despite the designation of Northern Ireland Departments in relation to that matter by virtue of the European Communities (Designation) (No.5) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2690) as that designation does not restrict the scope of other designations.
The Secretary of State for Justice, being a Minister designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972