(1)His Majesty may by Order in Council transfer all or any of the functions of the Secretary of State under the [1 & 2 Geo. 6. c. 6.] Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1937 (hereinafter referred to as " the Act of 1937 ") to such other Minister of the Crown as may be specified in the Order, and, as respects any period during which the Order is in force, references in the Act of 1937 to the Secretary of State shall, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Order, be construed as references to the Minister so specified.
(2)In this Act, except in Part VII thereof, the expression " the Minister " means the Minister specified in the Order for the time being in force under subsection (1) of this section, or if no such Order is in force, the Secretary of State.
(3)The Minister may make arrangements for the exercise on his behalf of any of his functions under the Act of 1937 or this Act by any other Minister of the Crown.
(4)Anything done before the commencement of this Act in exercise or purported exercise of any functions conferred or imposed by the Act of 1937 on the Secretary of State shall, if done at his request by any other Minister of the Crown, be as valid and effective for all purposes as if it had been done by the Secretary of State.