Section 9 of the Building Societies Act 1986 prohibits a building society (subject to certain exceptions) from raising money from its members or accepting deposits unless there is in force an authorisation of the Building Societies Commission granted under that section or treated as granted by provisions of the Act.

Section 41 of the 1986 Act enables the Commission, if it has reason to believe that the business of a building society for which such an authorisation is in force is or may be being conducted in a way that may not adequately protect the investments of shareholders and depositors, to direct the society to make an application under section 41 to renew its authorisation.

Section 41(14) provides that section 41 shall expire at the end of the period of 5 years beginning with the date on which the Act was passed (25th July 1986) unless continued in force by an order under section 41(15) which enables the Treasury to continue the section in force for a period not exceeding 5 years from the coming into operation of the order.

This Order continues the section in force for a period of 5 years from 25th July 1991.