27Dissolution of further education corporations
(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Secretary of State may by order provide for the dissolution of any further education corporation and the transfer to any person mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) below of property, rights and liabilities of the corporation.
(2)Such property, rights and liabilities may be transferred to—
(a)any person appearing to the Secretary of State to be wholly or mainly engaged in the provision of educational facilities or services of any description, or
(b)any body corporate established for purposes which include the provision of such facilities or services,
with the consent of the person or body in question.
(3)Such property, rights and liabilities may be transferred to—
(a)a council, or
(b)a higher education funding council.
(4)Where the recipient of a transfer under any order under this section is not a charity established for charitable purposes which are exclusively educational purposes, any property transferred must be transferred on trust to be used for charitable purposes which are exclusively educational purposes.
(5)In subsection (4) above “charity” and “charitable purposes” have the same meanings as in the [1960 c. 58.] Charities Act 1960.
(6)An order under this section may apply section 26 of this Act with such modifications as the Secretary of State may consider necessary or desirable.
(7)Before making an order under this section in respect of a further education corporation the Secretary of State shall consult—
(a)the corporation, and
(b)the appropriate council, unless the order was made for the purpose of giving effect to a proposal of that council.