Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

34 Investigating authorities for areas of archaeological importance.E+W+S

(1)The Secretary of State may at any time appoint any person whom he considers to be competent to undertake archaeological investigations to exercise in relation to any area of archaeological importance the functions conferred by the following provisions of this Part of this Act on the investigating authority for an area of archaeological importance, and any such appointment shall be on such terms and for such period as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

[F1The Secretary of State shall consult with the Commission before making an appointment under this subsection in relation to an area situated in England.]

(2)A person’s appointment as investigating authority may be cancelled at any time by the Secretary of State [F2; but, where the appointment was made in relation to an area situated in England, he shall consult with the Commission before cancelling the appointment.]

(3)On appointing or cancelling the appointment of any person as investigating authority for an area of archaeological importance, the Secretary of Sate shall notify each local authority in whose area the area of archaeological importance in question is wholly or partly situated [F3; and, if the area is wholly or partly situated in Greater London, he shall also notify the Commission.]

(4)Where there is for the time being no person holding appointment under this section as the investigating authority for an area of archaeological importance, the functions of the investigating authority for that area under this Part of this Act shall be exercisable by the [F4Commission (in the case of an area situated in England) or the Secretary of State (in any other case)].

(5)A person duly authorised in writing by any person by whom the functions of an investigating authority under this Part of this Act are for the time being exercisable may act on his behalf in the exercise of those functions.

Textual Amendments