(1)If the Council consider, after consulting all the assay offices, that having regard to—
(a)the establishment of a new assay office, the dissolution of any assay office or their amalgamation with another assay office; or
(b)other substantial changes which have taken place or are to take place in the functions, administration or activities of any assay office; or
(c)any other considerations (whether or not of a like character to those above-mentioned) appearing to the Council sufficient,
any or all of the provisions of Schedule 4 to this Act are no longer appropriate and that alterations, additions or omissions thereto or therefrom should be made, the Council may make representation in that behalf to the Secretary of State, specifying the alterations, additions or omissions to or from the said Schedule which they consider should be made.
(2)If the Secretary of State agrees with any representation so made to him, or if, having regard to the matters mentioned in the foregoing subsection, he considers it expedient to do so after consultation with the Council and despite the absence of any such representation, he may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, by order provide that there be made such alterations, additions or omissions to or from the said Schedule (whether or not the same as those specified in a representation where one has been made to him) as may be specified in the order.
(3)An order made under this section may contain such transitional, incidental and supplementary provisions (including in a case falling within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section provision for the winding up of any existing assay office and for the repeal of any local statutory provision relating to that assay office) as the Secretary of State considers expedient.