The Deregulation and Contracting Out (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

2.—(1) The Agricultural Returns Act (Northern Ireland) 1939 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 1(1) (Department of Agriculture (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture) may require returns as to agricultural land to be furnished to the Department—

(a) after “referred to as “the Ministry”)” insert “, or a person authorised by it, or any employee of his,”;

(b) after “to the Ministry” insert “or, as the case may be, a person authorised by it, or any employee of his,”.

(3) In section 1(2) (Department to cause a notice of the prescribed day to be published in the Belfast Gazette and in such other manner as the Department thinks best for informing persons affected by the notice)—

(a) for “The Ministry shall” substitute “The Department, or a person authorised by it under subsection (1), shall”;

(b) after “as the Ministry” insert “or that person, as the case may be,”.

(4) In section 1(3) (required return to be furnished to the Department) after “to the Ministry” insert “, or a person authorised by it under subsection (1), or any employee of his,”.