Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as The Free Zone (Liverpool) Designation Order 2001 and shall come into force on 10th August 2001.

Designation of area as free zone

2.—(1) An area of 383.28 hectares, in the County of Merseyside, comprising 269.56 hectares in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, 77.87 hectares in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and 35.85 hectares within the City of Liverpool, shown enclosed by a red line on a map (in this article referred to as “the map”), being of a scale of 1:2500, and signed by a Collector of Customs and Excise, shall be a free zone.

(2) The map shall be kept by the Commissioners at their Headquarters, New King’s Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PJ and a copy thereof at the offices of the responsible authority.

(3) The map or the copy thereof may, on application, be inspected by members of the public at reasonable hours without charge.

Appointment of responsible authority

3.  The responsible authority for the free zone shall be the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company whose Head Office is at Pier Head, Liverpool.

Period of validity of Order

4.  This Order shall have effect for a period of 10 years from the date of coming into force.

Conditions imposed on responsible authority

5.  The responsible authority shall—

(a)maintain an office in the free zone or at such other place as the Commissioners may allow at which shall be kept any records, for which the responsible authority is responsible, relating to the free zone and the business carried on therein;

(b)keep separate accounts in connection with the free zone;

(c)provide such information in connection with the free zone and the operation thereof to any person authorised by the Treasury, as that person may reasonably require;

(d)provide, free of expense to the Crown, such accommodation and facilities including furniture, fittings and equipment as the Commissioners may reasonably require and such accommodation and facilities shall be properly maintained, heated, lighted, ventilated and kept clean by the responsible authority;

(e)provide, free of expense to the Crown, such area of land within the free zone as the Commissioners may reasonably require for the examination of goods and vehicles and shall provide and maintain such appliances and afford such other facilities which are reasonably necessary to enable an account to be taken of any goods or make any examination or search;

(f)not permit a person to establish or carry on any trade or business in the free zone unless that person is authorised by the Commissioners to carry on such a trade or business in the free zone.

Health and safety

6.  Without prejudice to the responsibilities of persons occupying premises within the free zone, the responsible authority shall ensure that the working conditions within the free zone are safe and without risk to the health and safety of persons employed by the Commissioners and shall comply with any requirements concerning health and safety imposed by any competent authority.

This Order replaces the Free Zone (Liverpool) Designation Order 1991 (S.I. 1991 No. 1738). With effect from 10th August 2001, it designates an area of 383.28 hectares, in the County of Merseyside, comprising 269.56 hectares in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, 77.87 hectares in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and 35.85 hectares within the City of Liverpool as a free zone, appoints the responsible authority and imposes obligations upon that authority relating to the operation of the zone.