1. These Regulations may be cited as the Gas (Meters) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 and shall come into force on 6th June 1995.

2. The Gas (Meters) Regulations 1983(3) (hereinafter referred to as "the Principal Regulations") shall have effect subject to the amendments set out in regulation 3 below.

3. In paragraph (1) of regulation 4 of the Principal Regulations (re-examination of disputed meters)-

(a)after the words "requires a meter examiner" insert "in the civil service of the Crown";

(b)for the words "on payment of the fee prescribed by any provision of Regulation 5 below" substitute "on payment of the requisite fee".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the provisions relating to the re-examination of disputed meters contained in regulation 4 of the Gas (Meters) Regulations 1983 ("the Principal Regulations").

Paragraph 13(3) of Schedule 16 to the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 ("the 1994 Act") repealed section 17(8)(d) of the Gas Act 1986, and as a consequence regulation 5 of the Principal Regulations (which was a regulation made under powers contained in section 17(8)(d)) has ceased to have effect.

Paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 16 to the 1994 Act introduces a new section 17(8A) into the Gas Act 1986 which provides for the fees to be paid to examiners who are in the civil service of the Crown for re-examining gas meters to be determined by the Secretary of State with the approval of the Treasury.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations makes a consequential amendment to regulation 4 of the Principal Regulations by replacing the reference to fees calculated in accordance with regulation 5 with a reference to the requisite fee. It also declares that the duty to re-examine a meter only applies to meter examiners in the civil service of the Crown in accordance with section 17(2) of the Gas Act 1986.