Citation, interpretation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the European Communities (Designation) (No. 2) Order 1976 and shall come into operation on 14th January 1977.

(2) The Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply for the interpretation of this Order as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

Designation of Ministers or departments

2.—(1) For the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 the Ministers or government departments specified in column 1 of the Schedule to this Order are hereby designated in relation to the matters respectively specified in column 2 of that Schedule.

(2) Where a Minister or government department is designated in relation to any item in column 2 of the said Schedule, then, for the purposes of the said section 2(2), that Minister or government department is also hereby designated in relation to anything supplemental or incidental to the matters specified in that item.

(3) Where more than one Minister or government department is designated by this Order in relation to any matter, the designation has effect as respects the making of regulations by any of them or by more than one of them acting jointly.

(4) Regulations made by a Northern Ireland department or the Head of such a department in pursuance of this Order shall form part of the law of Northern Ireland and not of any other part of the United Kingdom.

SCHEDULE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order designates Ministers who may exercise powers to make regulations conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and specifies the matters in relation to which those powers may be exercised.