This Order in Council is made under section 1 of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975.

The Order makes provision for various functions of the Secretary of State relating to police and crime commissioner elections to be exercisable concurrently with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. It also makes supplementary provision in connection with that provision.

Article 3 provides for the Secretary of State’s functions under certain provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, under the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 and under the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Returning Officers’ Accounts) Regulations 2012 to be exercisable concurrently with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, broadly speaking so far as the functions relate to police and crime commissioner elections taking place after April 2016.

Article 4 makes supplementary provision in connection with article 3, including provision for the transfer to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster of property, rights and liabilities of the Secretary of State in connection with the transferred functions and for continuity in relation to the exercise of those functions and any property, rights or liabilities transferred.

Article 5 and the Schedule make consequential amendments to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 and the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Returning Officers’ Accounts) Regulations 2012.

Nothing in this Order alters the functions of the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers or the devolved authorities in Northern Ireland.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.