This Order in Council, made under the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975, transfers to the Secretary of State the functions of the Minister for the Civil Service and of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under sections 2 and 3 of, and Schedules 1 and 3 to, the Science and Technology Act 1965. The functions are expected to be exercised by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to whom are also transferred functions under the Royal Charters of the seven named Research Councils.

There are also transferred to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry all property, rights and liabilities to which the Minister for the Civil Service or the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is entitled or subject in connection with the functions transferred.

This Order further provides that the functions under section 5(1) of the Science and Technology Act 1965 (scientific research, & c.), section 1(1)(a) of the Education Reform Act 1986 (grants to body now known as Royal Academy of Engineering), section 213(1) of the Education Reform Act 1988 (miscellaneous grants) and regulations 2, 3, 4, 14, 17 and 18(1) and (2)(a) to (d) of the Education (Grant) Regulations 1990 (approval and payment of grants, & c.) which are exercisable concurrently by the Secretary of State for Education, the Minister for the Civil Service and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster shall cease to be exercisable by the Minister for the Civil Service and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.