Citation

1.  This Order may be cited as the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1998.

Commencement of sections 1 to 42 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

2.—(1) Section 1 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, except insofar as it relates to the establishment of a regional development agency for London, shall come into force on 25th November 1998.

(2) Sections 2 to 42 of that Act shall come into force on that date for the purposes of regional development agencies established on that date.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Article 2 brings into force sections 1 to 42 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (and the related Schedules 1 to 9), except insofar as they relate to the establishment of a regional development agency for London.

The effect of the commencement of section 1 in Part I of the Act is to establish regional development agencies in England in the eight regions, other than London, specified in Schedule 1 to the Act.

Other provisions of Part I commenced by the Order (sections 2 to 33 and Schedules 2 to 7) relate to the constitution of the agencies, their status, purposes and functions; financial arrangements; information, reports and accountability; the vesting and acquisition of land, and miscellaneous and supplementary matters.

Part II of the Act (sections 34 to 37) enables the Secretary of State to direct the Development Commission and the Urban Regeneration Agency to make schemes for the transfer to the agencies of property, rights and liabilities. The Secretary of State is also empowered to make orders relating to the functions of the Commission and the Agency.

Sections 38 to 42 in Part III of the Act make general provision relating to corporation tax, stamp duty, directions, interpretation of the Act and expenses of Ministers of the Crown attributable to the Act.