Commentary on Sections Part 2: Pharmaceutical Services General Section 36: Effect of the 1977 Act
180.Section 36 makes general provision about the status of the functions of the Secretary of State, National Assembly for Wales and Health Authorities in respect of Local Pharmaceutical Services pilot schemes. In particular, subsection (2) provides that, unless otherwise specified, the 1977 Act applies to services provided under pilot schemes as if the Secretary of State or National Assembly for Wales had directed a Health Authority to arrange those services on his behalf. One effect of this is that Health Authorities may, subject to directions from the Secretary of State or National Assembly for Wales under section 17A of the 1977 Act, delegate their functions in respect of pilot schemes to a Primary Care Trust. (For that reason, references in these explanatory notes to Health Authorities should be read to include Primary Care Trusts unless the context demands otherwise).