Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Crown Office (Forms and Proclamations Rules) (Amendment) Order 2000 and shall come into force on 29th November 2000.

(2) References in this Order to a Form in a Part of a Schedule are references to Forms in Parts of the Schedule to the Crown Office (Forms and Proclamations Rules) Order 1992(2).

Forms of Commissions of the Peace

2.-(1) Form B in Part II of the Schedule is amended-

(a)in the heading, by substituting for the words "Areas of Greater London" the words "Greater London";

(b)by substituting for the word "area" where it first occurs the words "commission area"; and

(c)by substituting for the words "the said area" wherever they occur the words "the said commission area".

(2) Form C in Part II of the Schedule is revoked.

Forms of Letters Patent

3. Forms A, B, C, D and E in Part III of the Schedule are amended by deleting in the third paragraph of each of them-

(a)the words from "may have hold and possess" to "his heirs male aforesaid successively"; and

(b)the words "have heretofore used and enjoyed or as they".

Forms for Royal Assents

4.-(1) Forms A and B in Part IV of the Schedule are amended-

(a)by deleting in each of them the reference to "Our most dear and entirely beloved Son and most faithful Counsellor Charles Philip Arthur George Prince of Wales"; and

(b)by substituting in each of them for the words "at least two other Lords of the Privy Council" the words "at least three other Lords of the Privy Council".

(2) Form B in Part IV of the Schedule is amended by substituting for the words "Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts Bishops Barons" the words "Bishops Lords".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order in Council amends the Crown Office (Forms and Proclamations Rules) Order 1992 in two respects.

First, since the entry into force of section 76 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 (c. 22), the Lord Mayor and aldermen of the City of London are no longer justices by virtue only of their offices. From 1st April 2001 the City of London commission area will form a part of the Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority. The form for Commissions of the Peace for the City of London is accordingly revoked, and amendments are made to the form of Commissions of the Peace for Greater London.

Secondly, since the entry into force of the House of Lords Act 1999 (c. 34), the grant of a hereditary peerage no longer automatically carries with it the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords. This has necessitated amendments to the forms of Letters Patent creating such peerages, and to the forms for signifying Royal Assent.