Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

24 Functions of Nature Conservancy Council

(1) The Nature Conservancy Council may at any time and shall five years after the passing of this Act and every five years thereafter, review Schedules 5 and 8 and advise the Secretary of State whether, in their opinion.—

(a) any animal should be added to, or removed from, Schedule 5 ;

(b) any plant should be added to, or removed from, Schedule 8.

(2) Advice may be given under subsection (1) either generally or with respect to particular provisions of this Part, particular areas of Great Britain or particular times of the year ; and any advice so given shall be accompanied by a statement of the reasons which led the Council to give that advice.

(3) The Council shall include any advice so given and the statement accompanying it in the annual report submitted by them to the Secretary of State under paragraph 17 of Schedule 5 to the [1973 c. 54.] Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973.

(4) The functions of the Council shall include power to advise or assist—

(a) any constable;

(b) any proper officer of a local authority ; or

(c) any person duly authorised by the Secretary of State under section 6(9), 7(6) or 14(5),

in, or in connection with, the enforcement of the provisions of this Part or any order or regulations made under it.