Whereas:

(1) It appears to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (“the Secretary of State”) that–

(a)those operations described in Schedule 1 to this Order (being operations of a Department of the Government for which the Secretary of State is responsible) are suitable to be financed by means of a fund established under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973(1) and, in particular, to be so managed that the revenue of such a fund would consist principally of receipts in respect of goods or services provided in the course of the operations in question; and

(b)the financing of the operations in question by means of such a fund would be in the interests of improved efficiency and effectiveness of the management of those operations;

(2) In accordance with sections 1(3) and 6(4) of the Act of 1973, the Secretary of State has taken such steps as appear to him to be appropriate to give an opportunity to such persons as appear to him appropriate to make representations to him and has laid before Parliament a report about the representations received and his conclusions;

(3) In accordance with section 2 of the Act of 1973, the Secretary of State has determined with the concurrence of the Treasury that the assets and liabilities set out in Schedule 2 to this Order are properly attributable to the operations for which a fund is to be established by this Order and are suitable to be appropriated to that fund;

(4) In accordance with section 6(2) of the Act of 1973, a draft of this Order has been laid before the House of Commons and has been approved by a resolution of that House.