53 Functions in relation to permissions and conditions initially exercisable by Secretary of State.E+W+S
(1)If the Secretary of State at any time during the period of six months beginning with the date of the coming into force of section 37 notifies the CAA that he proposes to perform, in relation to any airport which is—
(a)due to become subject to economic regulation under this Part at the end of that period by virtue of section 37(2), and
(b)specified in the notification,
the functions of the CAA specified in subsection (2), those functions shall (subject to subsection (4)) be performed in relation to the airport by the Secretary of State and not by the CAA, and references to the CAA in the provisions mentioned in subsection (2) and in sections 51 and 73 shall, so far as may be necessary for the purpose or in consequence of the transfer of those functions, be read as references to the Secretary of State,
(2)The functions of the CAA referred to in subsection (1) are—
(a)its functions under section 38 with respect to the grant or refusal of a permission under this Part, and
(b)if the airport in question is for the time being designated for the purposes of section 40, its functions under that section and section 52 with respect to the imposition of conditions in accordance with section 40(1)(a), and
(c)if the airport in question is not so designated, its functions under section 41(1) with respect to the imposition of such conditions as are there mentioned at the time of granting a permission under this Part.
(3)If the Secretary of State so determines at the time of granting a permission under this Part in respect of an airport in pursuance of this section, that airport shall, instead of becoming subject to economic regulation under this Part at the end of the period of six months referred to in subsection (1), become so subject on such earlier date as may be specified by the Secretary of State in his determination.
(4)Where functions of the CAA under section 40 or 41(1) fall to be performed by the Secretary of State by virtue of this section, the Secretary of State—
(a)shall perform those functions in the manner which he considers is best calculated to achieve the objectives specified in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 39(2); and
(b)shall perform those functions with respect to the imposition of conditions in pursuance of section 40(3) without there having been made any prior reference to the Commission in connection with the imposition of any such conditions.
(5)Where, before a notification is given by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) in the case of an airport, the airport operator has already made an application in accordance with section 38 to the CAA, then, as from the date when the notification is given—
(a)the application shall be treated as if it had been so made to the Secretary of State, and
(b)anything previously done by or in relation to the CAA in connection with the application shall be treated as if done by or in relation to the Secretary of State,
and any fee paid by him in pursuance of section 38(2)(b) shall be refunded to him by the CAA.