Reserve Forces Act 1980

124 Powers and duties assignable to associations. U.K.

(1) An association shall have, exercise and discharge such powers and duties connected with the organisation and administration of Her Majesty’s military and air forces as may for the time being be transferred or assigned to it by order of Her Majesty signified under the hand of the Secretary of State or, subject to such an order, by regulations under this Part of this Act, and also such powers and duties as may be transferred or assigned to it as mentioned above connected with the organisation and administration of—

(a) the reserves of the Royal Navy and the reserves of the Royal Marines, or

(b) the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps, the Combined Cadet Force and the Sea Cadet Corps,

but an association shall not have any powers of command or training over any part of Her Majesty’s forces.

(2) The powers and duties so transferred or assigned to an association may include any powers conferred on or vested in Her Majesty, and any powers or duties conferred or imposed on the Defence Council or the Secretary of State, by statute or otherwise, and in particular respecting the following matters—

(a) the organisation of the units of the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and their administration (including maintenance) at all times other than when they are called out for training or permanent military or air force service, or other than when—

(i) the Territorial Army is called out for permanent service by virtue of section 10(1) or 11(1) above, or

(ii) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is called out for permanent service by virtue of section 10(1);

(b) the recruiting for the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force both in peace and in war, and defining the limits of recruiting areas;

(c) the provision and maintenance of rifle ranges, buildings, magazines, sites of camps, aerodromes, landing grounds and hangars for the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force;

(d) facilitating the provision of areas to be used for manoeuvres;

(e) arranging with employers of labour as to holidays for training, and ascertaining, after consultation with the representatives of employers in and of persons employed in the principal industries of the area for which the association is established, the times of training which having regard to those industries are best suited to the circumstances of civil life;

(f) establishing or assisting cadet units and also rifle and aviation clubs;

(g) the provision of mechanical transport and horses for the peace requirements of the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force;

(h) providing accommodation for the safe custody of arms and equipment;

(i) the supply of the requirements on mobilisation of the units of the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force within the area for which the association is established in so far as those requirements are directed by the Defence Council to be met locally;

(j) the registration in conjunction with the military and air force authorities of vehicles, horses, stores and equipment for any of Her Majesty’s military or air forces (or, in the case of a territorial and army volunteer reserve association, any of Her Majesty’s forces);

(k) the welfare of members and former members of Her Majesty’s military and air forces and of members and former members of the reserves of the Royal Navy and of the reserves of the Royal Marines;

(l) in the case of a joint association and of an auxiliary air force association, the undertaking in relation to the Air Force Reserve of any functions undertaken in relation to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

For the purposes of paragraph (i) of this subsection the Defence Council shall from time to time make and issue to associations regulations specifying, so far as practicable, the requirements mentioned in that paragraph which are to be met locally.

(3) The members of an association shall not be under any pecuniary liability for any act done by them in their capacity as members of the association in carrying out the provisions of this Part of this Act.