Explanatory note

Section 56 of the Transport Act 2000 provides that, for the purposes of specified provisions of the Companies Act 1985 and of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, Ministers of the Crown, Northern Ireland Ministers, their nominees and Northern Ireland Departments are not to be regarded as shadow directors of any transferee under a transfer scheme or of any company associated with a transferee under a transfer scheme.

A company is associated with a transferee if it is a wholly owned subsidiary of the transferee and if it is itself designated under section 56(11).

This Order designates National Air Traffic Services Limited, NATS (Services) Limited and NATS (En Route) Limited for the purposes of section 56(11) Transport Act 2000. These companies are all wholly owned subsidiaries of National Air Traffic Services (No. 2) Limited. Provided that that company is a transferee under a transfer scheme and that the other conditions of the section are satisfied, section 56 will apply in relation to the three designated companies.