Part XStatutory Undertakers

Preliminary

217Meaning of “the appropriate Minister”

1

Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Act “the appropriate Minister” means—

a

in relation to statutory undertakers carrying on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, the Civil Aviation Authority or a relevant airport operator (within the meaning of Part V of the [1986 c. 31.] Airports Act 1986), the Secretary of State for Transport;

b

in relation to statutory undertakers carrying on an undertaking for the supply of hydraulic power and the Post Office, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry;

c

in relation to statutory undertakers carrying on an undertaking for the supply of water, the Secretary of State for Scotland; and

d

in relation to any other statutory undertakers, the Secretary of State for the Environment.

2

For the purposes of sections 121(11), 218 to 233, 270(9) and 277(2) and (3) and paragraph 6 of Schedule 6, “the appropriate Minister”—

a

in relation to a public gas transporter, means the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; and

b

in relation to a holder of a licence under section 6 of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989, means the Secretary of State.

3

References in this Act to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister—

a

if the appropriate Minister is not the one concerned as the Secretary of State, shall be construed as references to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister; and

b

if the one concerned as the Secretary of State is also the appropriate Minister, shall be construed as references to the Secretary of State alone,

and similarly with references to a Minister and the appropriate Minister and with any provision requiring the Secretary of State to act jointly with the appropriate Minister.