(1)The Secretary of State may—
(a)establish any body or bodies, consisting in each case of such members as he may from time to time appoint;
(b)assign to any other body or bodies the duty referred to in subsection (4) below.
(2)Without prejudice to his power under subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State shall, as soon as practicable after this subsection comes into operation,—
(a)establish at least one body under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above, or
(b)assign to at least one body, under paragraph (b) of that subsection, the duty referred to in subsection (4) below.
(3)A reference in this Act to a scientific authority is a reference to a body which is established under subsection (1) above or to which the duty there referred to is assigned under that subsection.
(4)It shall be the duty of a scientific authority to advise the Secretary of State on any question which he may refer to it, and on any question on which it considers it should offer its advice,—
(a)in connection with the administration of this Act;
(b)generally in connection with the importation and exportation of animals and plants of kinds which appear to him or, as the case may be, the authority to be, or to be likely to become, endangered as a result of international trade, and items derived wholly or partly from animals and plants of those kinds.
(5)In so far as it does not have power to do so apart from this subsection, any scientific authority may publish reports relating to the performance by it of its duty under subsection (4) above.
(6)Before appointing a person to be a member of a scientific authority established under subsection (1)(a) above, the Secretary of State shall consult such persons or bodies, or persons and bodies, as he thinks fit.
(7)The Secretary of State may, to such extent as may be approved by the Treasury, defray or contribute towards the expenses of any scientific authority established under subsection (1)(a) above; and any sums required by the Secretary of State for that purpose shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament.