INTERPRETATION ACT 1987 - SECT 49 Delegation of functions

INTERPRETATION ACT 1987 - SECT 49

49 Delegation of functions

(1) If an Act or instrument confers a power on any person or body to delegate a function, the person or body may, in accordance with the Act or instrument, delegate the function to a person or body by name or to a particular officer or the holder of a particular office by reference to the title of the office concerned.

(2) A delegation--

(a) may be general or limited,

(b) shall be in, or be evidenced by, writing signed by the delegator or, if the delegator is a body, by a person authorised by the body for that purpose, and

(c) may be revoked, wholly or partly, by the delegator.

(3) A delegated function may be exercised only in accordance with any conditions to which the delegation is subject.

(4) A delegate may, in the exercise of a delegated function, exercise any other function that is incidental to the delegated function.

(5) A delegated function that purports to have been exercised by a delegate shall, until the contrary is proved, be taken to have been duly exercised by the delegate.

(6) A delegated function that is duly exercised by a delegate shall be taken to have been exercised by the delegator.

(7) If--

(a) the exercise of a function by a person or body is, by virtue of an Act or instrument, dependent on the opinion, belief or state of mind of the person or body in relation to any matter, and

(b) the person or body has delegated the function to some other person or body,

the function may be exercised by the delegate on the opinion, belief or state of mind of the delegate in relation to any such matter.

(8) If a function is delegated by or to a particular officer or the holder of a particular office--

(a) the delegation does not cease to have effect merely because the person who was the particular officer or the holder of the particular office when the function was delegated ceases to be that officer or the holder of that office, and

(b) the person for the time being occupying or acting in the office concerned is taken to be the delegator or delegate (as the case requires).

(9) A function that has been delegated may, notwithstanding the delegation, be exercised by the delegator.

(10) This section applies to a sub-delegation of a function in the same way as it applies to a delegation of a function, but only in so far as the Act or instrument that authorises the delegation of the function also authorises the sub-delegation of the function.