Agriculture Act 1970

56 Default powers of Minister

(1) If the Minister is satisfied that the functions of a smallholdings authority under this Part of this Act are not being satisfactorily performed by the authority, the Minister, subject to the following provisions of this section, may—

(a) direct the authority to perform those functions in such manner as may be specified in the direction, or

(b) by order transfer such of the functions of the authority under this Part of this Act (including the expenditure of money whether on revenue or capital account) as may be specified in the order.

(2) Any functions transferred by an order in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section shall be so transferred to the Minister.

(3) Before the Minister—

(a) makes an order under subsection (1)(b) of this section, or

(b) comes to a decision on an application made by the smallholdings authority for the revocation of such an order relating to the authority, where the application is made not earlier than twelve months after the making of the order and (if one or more previous applications for the revocation of the order have been made) not earlier than twelve months after the last such application was made,

he shall give to the smallholdings authority an opportunity of making representations to him, and shall take into consideration any representations made by the authority, and, if the authority so require, shall afford to them an opportunity of being heard by a person appointed by the Minister for the purpose.

(4) The performance by the Minister of any functions transferred to him by an order in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section shall have effect as if he were an agent of the smallholdings authority duly authorised to perform them ; but—

(a) any expenses incurred by the Minister in the performance of those functions shall be defrayed in the first instance by the Minister, and

(b) the Minister shall certify, in respect of such successive periods as he may determine, the amount of the expenses so incurred in each such period and the amount of any receipts of the Minister in each such period from the performance of those functions, and the difference between those amounts, as certified by the Minister, shall be recoverable by him from the smallholdings authority or payable by him to the authority, as the case may require.

(5) Where any functions of a smallholdings authority have been transferred by an order in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section, and any property has been acquired or any liabilities have been incurred in the performance of those functions while so transferred, any order varying or revoking that order may contain such provisions with respect to the transfer, vesting or discharge of any such property or liabilities as appear to the Minister to be expedient in the circumstances.

(6) The power conferred on the Minister by subsection (1)(a) of this section shall have effect without prejudice to the exercise of any other power of the Minister to give directions under this Part of this Act.

(7) Section 104 of the [1947 c. 48.] Agriculture Act 1947 (provisions as to representations), any regulations for the time being in force under that section, and section 107 of that Act (service of notices) in its application to notices under that section, shall (with the necessary modifications) have effect in relation to subsection (3) of this section as they have effect in relation to enactments contained in that Act.