National Health Service Act 1977

18 Directions under ss. 13 to 17 generally

(1) Any directions given by the Secretary of State in pursuance of sections 13 to 17 above shall be given either by regulations or by an instrument in writing, except that—

(a) any such directions in pursuance of section 13 above in respect of functions relating to special hospitals, and

(b) any such directions in respect of functions conferred on the Secretary of State by section 20(1) or (2) below,

shall only be given by regulations.

(2) Any directions given by an Authority in pursuance of sections 13 to 17 shall be given by an instrument in writing.

(3) Directions given and regulations made under sections 13 to 17 in respect of any function—

(a) shall not, except in prescribed cases, preclude a body or 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 section 32(3) of the [1889 c. 63.] Interpretation Act 1889 in the case of directions given by regulations),

so, however, that an Area Health Authority shall not be entitled to exercise any functions which, by virtue of section 15 above, are exercisable by the Family Practitioner Committee established by the Authority.