Commentary Part 1: General Order-Making Powers Section 2: Power to merge
21.Section 2 confers power on a Minister to make provision by order to merge any group of bodies or offices (or both) listed in Schedule 2. Such provision might involve the establishment of a new body corporate or office (including provision for constitutional arrangements) to replace the bodies being merged, or the abolition of all but one body or office in a group (in which case the remaining body or office would assume some or all of the functions previously held by other members of the group). An order under this section may also include a transfer of functions to an eligible person (as defined in section 1(3)) which is not included in the group of bodies or offices involved in the merger.