| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.I. No. |
|---|---|---|
| Sections 1(3)*, 2, 3, 4*, 5. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Sections 7, 8, 9. | 14th July 1986 | 1986/1088 |
| Sections 10, 11. | 1st August 1986 | 1986/1088 |
| Section 12. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 13. | 6th January 1986 1st August 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/1088 |
| Section 16. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Sections 17, 18*, 22, 23. | 1st August 1986 | 1986/1088 |
| Sections 29, 30, 32*. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 33. | 1st August 1986 | 1986/1088 |
| Sections 34, 47–56. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 57. | 6th January 1986 1st April 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/414 |
| Sections 59–84, 87–92. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 93. | 14 February 1986 1st April 1986 | 1986/80 1986/414 |
| Sections 94–101. | 14 February 1986 | 1986/80 |
| Section 102. | 1st April 1986 | 1986/414 |
| Sections 103, 105. | 14 February 1986 | 1986/80 |
| Section 106. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 107. | 1st April 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Sections 108, 109. | 1st April 1986 | 1986/414 |
| Sections 110, 112, 113. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Sections 114, 115. | 26th July 1986 | 1986/1088 |
| Section 116. | 1st April 1986 26th July 1986 | 1986/414 1986/1088 |
| Sections 118–125. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 126* | 14th July 1986 1st August 1986 | 1986/1088 |
| Section 127* | 6th January 1986 1st August 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/1088 |
| Sections 128–138. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Section 139* | 6th January 1986 1st April 1986 26th July 1986 1st August 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/414 1986/1088 |
| Schedules 1*, 2. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Schedule 3. | 6th January 1986 1st April 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/414 |
| Schedule 5. | 6th January 1986 | 1985/1887 |
| Schedule 6* | 6th January 1986 14th February 1986 1st April 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/80 1986/414 |
| Schedule 7* | 6th January 1986 14th February 1986 1st April 1986 1st August 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/80 1986/414 1986/1088 |
| Schedule 8* | 6th January 1986 1st April 1986 26th July 1986 | 1985/1887 1986/414 1986/1088 |
An asterisk (*) indicates that the provision was only brought into force partially.