Commentary on Sections Amendments and repeals Section 55 Power to amend enactments conferring functions on national authorities
232.This section confers a power to amend local or personal Acts, and provisional order confirmation Acts, where they confer functions on the ‘national authority’ in relation to common land, or require consultation of, or the consent of, the national authority in respect of activities relating to common land. The ‘national authority’ is the Secretary of State in relation to England, and the National Assembly for Wales in relation to Wales. Sometimes these functions or requirements prove an unnecessary burden on the national authority. Section 55 enables such Acts to be amended so that a function can be removed or transferred to another person, and a requirement for the consultation or consent of the national authority can be repealed or converted into a requirement for the consultation or consent of some other person. An order under this section will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure (section 59(3)).