For the purpose of assisting the people of the Highlands and Islands to improve their economic and social conditions and of enabling the Highlands and Islands to play a more effective part in the economic and social development of the nation, there shall be established a Highlands and Islands Development Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board”) which shall have the general function of preparing, concerting, promoting, assisting and undertaking measures for the economic and social development of the Highlands and Islands, and have such other functions in pursuance of that general function as are conferred on them by this Act.

The area within or in relation to which the functions of the Board shall be exercised shall be the F1former counties of Argyll, Caithness, Inverness, Orkney, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Zetland and such other areas in Scotland as, having regard to their character and proximity to the said counties, the Secretary of State may, by order made by statutory instrument, from time to time designate.

An order made under the last foregoing subsection shall be of no effect unless it is approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament, and the power to make such an order includes power to vary or revoke it by a subsequent order.

The Board shall consist of a chairman and not more than six other members of which one may be appointed deputy chairman. The chairman, the deputy chairman and the other members of the Board shall be appointed by the Secretary of State, but before appointing a member to be deputy chairman the Secretary of State shall consult with the chairman.

The provisions contained in Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the Board.