Explanatory note

This Order provides for the establishment and constitution of a Special Health Authority, to be known as the Health Protection Agency (or, in Welsh as Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu Iechyd) (“the Agency”), to exercise such functions of the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales (“NAW”) in connection with health protection, and such other functions, as the Secretary of State or NAW may direct it to perform.

Article 2 of the Order establishes the Agency, the functions of which are described in article 3 and are to be specified more particularly in directions given by the Secretary of State and NAW. Provision is also made for the constitution of the Agency (article 4), for the remuneration of members of the Agency (article 5), for the admission of the public to meetings (article 6), and for the transfer of staff (article 7 and the Schedule). Article 8 provides for the abolition of the Microbiological Research Authority (“MRA”). Articles 9 and 10 provide for the transfer of rights, property and liabilities from the MRA and the Public Health Laboratory Service Board to the Agency.