45. For section 141(3) of the 1972 Act (research and collection of information) substitute—
“(3) This section has effect—
(a)in relation to a principal council in Wales—
(i)as if any reference to a council were a reference to the principal council, and
(ii)as if any reference to a county were a reference to the principal area;
(b)in relation to a corporate joint committee—
(i)as if any reference to a council were a reference to the corporate joint committee,
(ii)as if any reference to a county were a reference to the area specified as the corporate joint committee’s area in regulations under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 establishing the corporate joint committee, and
(iii)as if any reference to any other local authority in the county were a reference to any local authority in the corporate joint committee’s area.”