Further and Higher Education Act 1992

Identification of property, rights and liabilities

2 (1) It shall be the duty of the transferor and the Education Assets Board, whether before or after the operative date, so far as practicable to arrive at such written agreements, and to execute such other instruments, as are necessary or expedient to identify or define the property, rights and liabilities transferred to the transferee or retained by the transferor or for making any such arrangements as are mentioned in paragraph 1(3) above and as will—

(a) afford to the transferor and the transferee as against one another such rights and safeguards as they may require for the proper discharge of their respective functions, and

(b) make as from such date, not being earlier than the operative date, as may be specified in the agreement or instrument such clarifications and modifications of the effect of the provision of this Act under which the transfer is required on the property, rights and liabilities of the transferor as will best serve the proper discharge of the respective functions of the transferor and the transferee.

(2) Any such agreement or instrument shall provide so far as it is expedient—

(a) for the granting of leases and for the creation of other liabilities and rights over land whether amounting in law to interests in land or not, and whether involving the surrender of any existing interest or the creation of a new interest or not,

(b) for the granting of indemnities in connection with the severance of leases and other matters,

(c) for responsibility for registration of any matter in any description of statutory register.

3 (1) The Education Assets Board may, in the case of any matter on which agreement is required to be reached under paragraph 2(1) above—

(a) if it appears to them that it is unlikely that such an agreement will be reached, or

(b) if such an agreement has not been reached within such period as may be prescribed by regulations,

give a direction determining that matter, and may include in the direction any provision which might have been included in an agreement under paragraph 2(1).

(2) A direction under sub-paragraph (1) above may be given before or after the operative date.

(3) Any property, rights or liabilities required by a direction under this paragraph to be transferred to the transferee shall be regarded as having been transferred to, and by virtue of this Act vested in, the transferee accordingly.

(4) The Board shall, before giving a direction under this paragraph, give the transferor and the transferee such opportunity as may be prescribed by regulations to make written representations.

4 (1) The transferor or transferee, if dissatisfied with a determination under paragraph 3 above, may appeal to the Secretary of State.

(2) An appeal under this paragraph shall be made in accordance with regulations.

(3) The Secretary of State shall, before determining an appeal under this paragraph, give the appellant and the respondent such opportunity as may be prescribed by regulations to make written representations.

(4) On an appeal under this paragraph the Secretary of State may—

(a) allow or dismiss the appeal or vary the determination of the Board, and

(b) give a direction accordingly under paragraph 3 above.

5 (1) Regulations may prescribe the procedure to be followed in making any determination under paragraphs 3 and 4 above.

(2) The regulations may in particular—

(a) provide for a time limit within which written representations and any supporting documents must be submitted,

(b) empower the determining authority to proceed to a determination taking into account only such written representations and supporting documents as were submitted within the time limit, and

(c) empower the determining authority to proceed to a determination, after giving the transferor and the transferee or, as the case may be, the appellant and the respondent written notice of their intention to do so, notwithstanding that no written representations were made within the time limit, if it appears to the determining authority that they have sufficient material before them to enable them to make a determination.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) above the “determining authority” means the Board or the Secretary of State, as the case may be.