Reserve Forces Act 1996

113 Powers and duties assignable to associations. U.K.

(1) An association shall have such powers and duties connected with the organisation and administration of—

(a) Her Majesty’s land and air forces;

(b) the reserve naval and marine forces; or

(c) the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps, the Combined Cadet Force and the Sea Cadet Corps,

as may for the time being be transferred or assigned to it by order of Her Majesty signified under the hand of the Secretary of State or, subject to such an order, by regulations under this Part.

(2) The powers and duties which may be so transferred or assigned include any powers conferred on or vested in Her Majesty, and any powers or duties conferred or imposed on the Defence Council or the Secretary of State, by statute or otherwise, and in particular respecting the following matters—

(a) the organisation of the units of the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and their administration (including maintenance) at all times other than when training or on duty or when in permanent service;

(b) the recruiting of members for the volunteer reserve forces;

(c) the provision and maintenance of buildings, rifle ranges, magazines, sites of camps, aerodromes, landing grounds and hangars;

(d) facilitating the provision of areas to be used for manoeuvres;

(e) arranging with employers as to leave of absence for training, and ascertaining, after consultation with the representatives of the main employers in the area for which the association is established, the times of training which having regard to their businesses are best suited to the circumstances of civil life;

(f) establishing or assisting cadet units and also rifle and aviation clubs;

(g) the provision of transport for the peace-time requirements of the reserve forces;

(h) providing accommodation for the safe custody of arms or equipment;

(i) the supply of the requirements, when called out, of the units of the reserve forces within the area for which the association is established in so far as those requirements are directed by the Defence Council to be met locally;

(j) the welfare of members and former members of Her Majesty’s land and air forces and of members and former members of the reserve naval and marine forces.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(i) the Defence Council shall make and issue to associations regulations specifying, so far as practicable, the requirements mentioned in that paragraph which are to be met locally.

(4) An association shall not have any powers of command or training over any part of Her Majesty’s forces.

(5) The members of an association shall not be under any pecuniary liability for any act done by them in their capacity as members in carrying out the provisions of this Part.