Commentary on Sections Part 1 – Strategic Highways Companies Section 1: Appointment of strategic highways companies
27.Section 1 provides for the Secretary of State to appoint one or more companies as a highway authority. Appointment is by order.
28.Subsection (2) provides that a company appointed may only be one that is limited by shares and wholly owned by the Secretary of State – therefore limiting ownership of the company (or companies). Subsection (3) provides further that where the company ceases to be wholly owned by the Secretary of State the appointment automatically terminates.
29.An appointment may also be terminated by the Secretary of State revoking the order under which the appointment is made pursuant to section 14 of the Interpretation Act 1978.
30.A company appointed under this section is to be known as a “strategic highways company” (subsection (4)).