National Health Service Act 1977

Inquiries, and default and emergency powers E+W+S

84 Inquiries. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may cause an inquiry to be held in any case where he deems it advisable to do so in connection with any matter arising under this Act [F1 or Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990].

(2) For the purpose of any such inquiry (but subject to subsection (3) below) the person appointed to hold the inquiry—

(a) may by summons require any person to attend, at a time and place stated in the summons, to give evidence or to produce any documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry; and

(b) may take evidence on oath, and for that purpose administer oaths, or may, instead of administering an oath, require the person examined to make a solemn affirmation.

(3) Nothing in this section—

(a) requires a person, in obedience to a summons under the section, to attend to give evidence or to produce any documents unless the necessary expenses of his attendance are paid or tendered to him; or

(b) empowers the person holding the inquiry to require the production of the title, or of any instrument relating to the title, of any land not being the property of a local authority.

(4) Any person who refuses or deliberately fails to attend in obedience to a summons under this section, or to give evidence, or who deliberately alters, suppresses, conceals, destroys, or refuses to produce any book or other document which he is required or is liable to be required to produce for the purposes of this section, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F2 level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both.

(5) Where the Secretary of State causes an inquiry to be held under this section—

(a) the costs incurred by him in relation to the inquiry (including such reasonable sum not exceeding £30 a day as he may determine for the services of any officer engaged in the inquiry) shall be paid by such local authority or party to the inquiry as he may direct, and

(b) he may cause the amount of the costs so incurred to be certified, and any amount so certified and directed to be paid by any authority or person shall be recoverable from that authority or person by the Secretary of State summarily as a civil debt.

No local authority shall be ordered to pay costs under this subsection in the case of any inquiry unless it is a party to that inquiry.

(6) Where the Secretary of State causes an inquiry to be held under this section he may make orders—

(a) as to the costs of the parties at the inquiry, and

(b) as to the parties by whom the costs are to be paid,

and every such order may be made a rule of the High Court on the application of any party named in the order.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words added by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 18(6)

F2 Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 84(2)–(4) applied with modifications by S.I. 1979/1644, reg. 10(8)

S. 84(2)-(4) applied (with modifications) (30.1.1998) by S.I. 1997/2817, reg. 19(1)(2), Sch. 4

Valid from 01/08/2001

[F3 84A Intervention orders E+W+S

(1) If the Secretary of State—

(a) is of the opinion that a body to which this section applies is not performing one or more of its functions adequately or at all, or that there are significant failings in the way the body is being run, and

(b) is satisfied that it is appropriate for him to intervene under this section,

he may make an order under this section in respect of the body (an “intervention order”).

(2) The bodies to which this section applies are—

(a) Health Authorities,

(b) Special Health Authorities,

(c) NHS trusts,

(d) Primary Care Trusts.

(3) An intervention order may make any provision authorised by section 84B below (including any combination of such provisions).]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 84A inserted (1.8.2001 for E. and 17.3.2003 for W.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 13(1), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2001/2804 art. 2(1)(a)(2); S.I. 2003/713, art. 2

Valid from 01/08/2001

[F4 84B Intervention orders: effect E+W+S

(1) In this section—

(a) “member” means a member of a Health Authority, Special Health Authority or Primary Care Trust, or a member of the board of directors of an NHS trust,

(b) “employee member” means a member of a Health Authority, Special Health Authority or Primary Care Trust who is an officer of the Authority or Trust, or an executive director of an NHS trust.

(2) An intervention order may provide for the removal from office of—

(a) all the members, or

(b) those specified in the order,

and for their replacement with individuals specified in or determined in accordance with the order (who need not be the same in number as the removed individuals).

(3) An intervention order may provide for the suspension (either wholly, or in respect only of powers and duties specified in or determined in accordance with the order) of—

(a) all the members, or

(b) those specified in the order,

and for the powers of the suspended members to be exercised, and their duties performed, during their suspension by individuals specified in or determined in accordance with the order (who need not be the same in number as the suspended individuals).

(4) The powers and duties referred to in subsection (3) are, in the case of an employee member, only those which he has in his capacity as a member.

(5) An intervention order may contain directions to the body to which it relates to secure that a function of the body specified in the directions—

(a) is performed, to the extent specified in the directions, on behalf of the body and at its expense, by such person as is specified in the directions, and

(b) is so performed in such a way as to achieve such objectives as are so specified,

and the directions may require that any contract or other arrangement made by the body with that person contains such terms and conditions as may be so specified.

(6) If the person referred to in subsection (5)(a) is a body referred to in section 84A(2) above, the functions of that body include the performance of the functions specified in the directions under subsection (5); and, if that body is a Health Authority, are primary functions of the Authority.

(7) Subsection (8) applies in relation to any provision—

(a) in this Act, the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19), or the Health and Social Care Act 2001; or

(b) in any order or regulations made, or directions given, under any of those Acts,

which relates to the membership of the body to which an intervention order relates (or of its board of directors, in the case of an NHS trust), or relates to its procedure.

(8) If the Secretary of State considers it appropriate, the intervention order may, in relation to any such provision specified in the order, provide—

(a) that it is not to apply in relation to the body while the order remains in force; or

(b) that it is to apply in relation to the body, while the order remains in force, with modifications specified in the order.

(9) An intervention order may contain such supplementary directions to the body to which it relates as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of giving full effect to the order.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 84B inserted (1.8.2001 for E. and 17.3.2003 for W.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 13(1), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2001/2804 art. 2(1)(a); S.I. 2003/713, art. 2

85 Default powers. E+W+S

(1) Where the Secretary of State is of opinion, on complaint or otherwise, that—

[F5 (a) a Health Authority;

(b) a Special Health Authority;

(c) an NHS trust;

(d) the Medical Practices Committee; or

(e) the Dental Practice Board;]

have failed to carry out any functions conferred or imposed on them by or under this Act [F6 or Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990], or have in carrying out those functions failed to comply with any regulations or directions relating to those functions, he may after such inquiry as he may think fit make an order declaring them to be in default.

(2) [F7 The members of the body in default shall] forthwith vacate their office, and the order—

(a) shall provide for the appointment, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, of new members of the body; and

(b) may contain such provisions as seem to the Secretary of State expedient for authorising any person to act in the place of the body in question pending the appointment of new members.

(3)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

(5) An order made under this section may contain such supplementary and incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient, including—

(a) provision for the transfer to the Secretary of State of property and liabilities of the body in default; and

(b) where any such order is varied or revoked by a subsequent order, provision in the revoking order or a subsequent order for the transfer to the body in default of any property or liabilities acquired or incurred by the Secretary of State in discharging any of the functions transferred to him.

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 85(1)(a)-(e) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) for s. 85(1)(a)-(g) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 para. 41 (with Sch. 2 para. 6)

F6 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 18(7)(a)

F7 Words substituted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 18(7)(b)

F8 S. 85(3)(4) repealed by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1)(2), Sch. 9 para. 18(7)(c), Sch. 10

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 85(1) amended (15.8.1997) by 1997 c. 46, s. 41(10), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 20; S.I. 1997/1780, art. 2(1), Sch.

C3 S. 85(3)–(5) extended by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), Ss. 124(2), 131(1) (the said s. 124 repealed (prosp.) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c.19, SIF 113:2), ss. 66(2), 67(2), Sch. 10)

86 Emergency powers. E+W+S

If the Secretary of State—

(a) considers that by reason of an emergency it is necessary, in order to ensure that a service falling to be provided in pursuance of this Act [F9 or Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990] is provided, to direct that during the period specified by the directions a function conferred on any body or person by virtue of this Act [F9 or that Part] shall to the exclusion of or concurrently with that body or person be performed by another body or person, then

(b) he may give directions accordingly [F10 and it shall be the duty of the bodies or persons in question to comply with the directions].

The powers conferred on the Secretary of State by this section are in addition to any other powers exercisable by him.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 18(8)

F10 Words in s. 86(b) omitted (1.9.1999 for E. and otherwiseprosp.) by virtue of 1999 c. 8, ss. 65, 67, Sch. 4 para. 26; S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 and is repealed (prosp.) by 1999 c. 8, ss. 65, 67, Sch. 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 86 amended (1.4.1998 to the extent it relates to pilot schemes under which personal medical services are provided otherwise 1.10.1998) by 1997 c. 46, s. 41(10), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 21; S.I. 1998/631, art. 2(a)(b), Schs. 1 2 (with arts. 3-5); S.I. 1998/1998, art. 2(2), Schs. 1 2