Commentary Part 2: Local Authorities — Governance and Audit Introduction Section 34 – Mutual insurance
97.Section 34 provides that a qualifying authority (listed in section 35(2)) may become a member of a body corporate whose objects must be those set out in subsection (2) and all of whose members are other qualifying authorities. In addition, it provides that a qualifying authority may do anything that is required by, or is conducive or incidental to, being a member of such a body corporate.
98.Subsection (3) provides that the power of a qualifying authority to do anything that is required of it as a member of the mutual insurance body corporate includes a power to pay premiums and other payments to the mutual insurance body, to agree to make any such payments and to assume financial obligations in relation to prescribed persons.
99.Subsection (4) provides that the Secretary of State, in relation to qualifying authorities in England, and Welsh Ministers, in relation to qualifying authorities in Wales, may by regulations impose restrictions or conditions on the use of the powers conferred on qualifying authorities.
100.Under subsection (5), qualifying authorities are required to have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers and to any guidance or document specified in regulations.
101.Subsection (6) provides that the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers may, by regulation, amend the list of authorities that are qualifying authorities.