Post Office Act 1969

17 Power of the Minister to override section 16 in case of difficulty or uncertainty

(1) If it appears to the Minister expedient so to do for the purpose of removing any difficulties or uncertainties arising out of the operation of the last foregoing section, he may by order—

(a) direct that such property (other than land), rights or liabilities as may be specified in the order (being property, rights or liabilities which, apart from the order, would vest in -the Post Office by virtue of that section or which have so vested) shall, notwithstanding that section, not so vest or, as the case may be, be deemed not to have so vested ; or

(b) direct that such property (other than land), rights or liabilities as may be so specified (being property, rights or liabilities which, apart from the order, would not so vest or which have not so vested) shall, notwithstanding that section, so vest on the appointed day or, as the case may be, on such day as may be so specified.

(2) No order shall be made under this section by the Minister with respect to chattels or corporeal moveables after the expiration of the period of twelve months beginning with the appointed day.

(3) Where an order under this section operates to the advantage of the Post Office, the Minister may, with the consent of the Treasury, direct that the debt that will fall, or has fallen, by virtue of the following provisions of this Part of this Act, to be assumed by the Post Office to him shall be increased by a sum specified in the direction (being a sum appearing to him to represent the value of the advantage); and where an order under this section operates to the disadvantage of the Post Office, the Minister may, with the like consent, direct that that debt shall be reduced by a sum specified in the direction (being a sum sufficient, in his opinion, to compensate the Post Office for the disadvantage).