Exercise of functions

11Treasury directions

In the exercise of their functions the Commissioners shall comply with any directions of a general nature given to them by the Treasury.

12Commissioners' arrangements

(1)

The Commissioners shall make arrangements for—

(a)

the conduct of their proceedings, and

(b)

the conduct of the proceedings of any committee established by them.

(2)

Arrangements under subsection (1) may, in particular—

(a)

make provision for a quorum at meetings;

(b)

provide that a function of the Commissioners—

(i)

may be exercised by two Commissioners, or

(ii)

may be exercised by a specified number of Commissioners (greater than two).

(3)

A decision to make arrangements under subsection (1) must be taken with the agreement of more than half of the Commissioners holding office at the time.

13Exercise of Commissioners' functions by officers

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may exercise any function of the Commissioners.

(2)

But subsection (1)—

(a)

does not apply to the functions specified in subsection (3), and

(b)

is subject to directions under section 2(3) and arrangements under section 12.

(3)

The non-delegable functions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a)

making, by statutory instrument, regulations, rules or an order,

(b)

approving an application for a warrant to search premises under section 20C of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9),

(c)

approving an application for a warrant to enter premises under Part 7 of Schedule 13 to the Finance Act 2003 (c. 14), and

(d)

giving instructions for the disclosure of information under section 20(1)(a), except that an officer of Revenue and Customs may give an instruction under section 20(1)(a) authorising disclosure of specified information relating to—

(i)

one or more specified persons,

(ii)

one or more specified transactions, or

(iii)

specified goods.

14Delegation

(1)

Arrangements under section 12 may, in particular, enable the Commissioners, or a number of Commissioners acting in accordance with arrangements by virtue of section 12(2)(b), to delegate a function of the Commissioners, other than a function specified in subsection (2) below—

(a)

to a single Commissioner,

(b)

to a committee established by the Commissioners (which may include persons who are neither Commissioners nor staff of the Commissioners nor officers of Revenue and Customs), or

(c)

to any other person.

(2)

The non-delegable functions mentioned in subsection (1) are—

(a)

making, by statutory instrument, regulations, rules or an order,

(b)

approving an application for a warrant to search premises under section 20C of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9), and

(c)

approving an application for a warrant to enter premises under Part 7 of Schedule 13 to the Finance Act 2003 (c. 14).

(3)

The Commissioners may not delegate the function under section 20(1)(a) except to a single Commissioner.

(4)

The delegation of a function by virtue of subsection (1) by the Commissioners or a number of Commissioners—

(a)

shall not prevent the exercise of the function by the Commissioners or those Commissioners, and

(b)

shall not, subject to express provision to the contrary in directions under section 2(3) or arrangements under section 12, prevent the exercise of the function by an officer of Revenue and Customs.

(5)

Where the Commissioners or a number of Commissioners delegate a function to a person by virtue of subsection (1)(c)—

(a)

the Commissioners or those Commissioners shall monitor the exercise of the function by that person, and

(b)

in the exercise of the function the delegate shall comply with any directions of the Commissioners or of those Commissioners.

15Agency: Scotland and Northern Ireland

(1)

For the purposes of section 93 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) (agency)—

(a)

the Commissioners shall be treated as a Minister of the Crown, and

(b)

the officers of Revenue and Customs shall be treated as a Minister of the Crown.

(2)

For the purposes of section 28 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (agency)—

(a)

the Commissioners shall be treated as a Minister of the Crown, and

(b)

the officers of Revenue and Customs shall be treated as a Minister of the Crown.

16Restrictions, &c.

Part 1 of Schedule 2 (which restricts, or makes other provision in connection with, the exercise of certain functions) shall have effect.