Citation and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the European Communities (Designation) Order 2012 and comes into force on 7th August 2012.

(2) In this Order-

"designated" means designated for the purposes of section 2(2), and similar expressions are to be construed accordingly;

"prohibited weapons" and "prohibited ammunition" mean respectively weapons and ammunition prohibited under Article 45 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004(2) (including, in the case of ammunition, any missiles falling within paragraph (2)(g) of that Article);

"Minister or department" means -

"section 2(2)" means section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972;

"subordinate legislation" means orders, rules, regulations or schemes made under section 2(2).

Designation in relation to financial assistance for industry

2. The Secretary of State is designated in relation to financial assistance for industry.

Designation in relation to administrative co-operation

3. The Treasury are designated in relation to administrative cooperation in the field of taxation.

Designation in relation to financial services

4. The Treasury are designated in relation to financial services.

Designation in relation to firearms and ammunition

5. Any Northern Ireland department is designated in relation to firearms and ammunition except in relation to prohibited weapons and prohibited ammunition.

Territorial restrictions

6. Article 5 only designates a Northern Ireland department to make subordinate legislation that forms part of the law of Northern Ireland, subject to Article 7.

Relationship with other designations

7.-(1) This Order does not restrict the scope of any designation made by any other Order.

(2) Where-

(a)a Minister or department is designated by this Order, and

(b)any other Minister or department is designated in relation to the same matter by any other Order,

any of them may make subordinate legislation in relation to that matter jointly.

Revocation of existing designations

8. The Orders specified in column (1) of the Schedule to this Order are revoked in so far as they relate to the designations listed in column (3) of that Schedule.

Article 8

SCHEDULE 1REVOCATIONS OF DESIGNATIONS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, only "designated" Ministers and departments can exercise the powers in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68) to make orders, rules, regulations and schemes. This is one of a series of Orders by which Ministers and departments are designated for the purposes of section 2(2) in relation to different subject areas.

Article 2 designates the Secretary of State in relation to financial assistance for industry.

Article 3 designates the Treasury in relation to administrative assistance in the field of taxation.

Article 4 designates the Treasury in relation to financial services.

Article 5 designates any Northern Ireland department to make subordinate legislation in relation to measures relating to firearms and ammunition.

Article 6 provides a territorial restriction on the scope of the designation in respect of any Northern Ireland department.

Article 7 provides that a new designation does not restrict the scope of designations in other Orders and allows Ministers and departments designated in relation to the same matters to legislate jointly as well as individually.

Article 8 revokes several existing designations which have now been superseded.

A full Impact Assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.