Courts and Legal Services Act 1990

73 Delegation of certain administrative functions of Master of the Rolls

(1) Where the Master of the Rolls expects to be absent at a time when it may be appropriate for any relevant functions of his to be exercised, he may appoint a judge of the Supreme Court to exercise those functions on his behalf.

(2) Where the Master of the Rolls considers that it would be inappropriate for him to exercise any such functions in connection with a particular matter (because of a possible conflict of interests or for any other reason), he may appoint a judge of the Supreme Court to exercise those functions on his behalf in connection with that matter.

(3) Where the Master of the Rolls is incapable of exercising his relevant functions, the Lord Chancellor may appoint a judge of the Supreme Court to exercise, on behalf of the Master of the Rolls, such of those functions as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate.

(4) Any appointment under this section shall be in writing and shall specify—

(a) the functions which may be exercised by the appointed judge; and

(b) the period for which the appointment is to have effect.

(5) In this section “relevant functions” means any functions of the Master of the Rolls under—

(a) section 144A of the [1922 c. 16.] Law of Property Act 1922 (functions in relation to manorial documents);

(b) section 7(1) of the [1958 c. 51.] Public Records Act 1958 (power to determine where records of the Chancery of England are to be deposited);

(c) the [1974 c. 47.] Solicitors Act 1974 (which gives the Master of the Rolls various functions in relation to solicitors);

(d) section 9 of, and Schedule 2 to, the [1985 c. 61.] Administration of Justice Act 1985 (functions in relation to incorporated practices).