EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

Article 2 of this Order brings into force, on 1st July 2012, section 30(1) to (8) of, and Schedule 6 (Repeals) to, the Public Bodies Act 2011 (‘the Act’), apart from certain repeals. Section 30(1) abolishes the regional development agencies, apart from the London Development Agency, which is abolished by the Localism Act 2011 (section 30(2)). Most of the provisions brought into force by this Order come into force at the beginning of 1st July 2012 but the commencement of section 30(1) and (2) (and related repeals) is delayed until 0.02 a.m. on 1st July 2012 so that the regional development agencies are abolished after the transfers of their remaining assets and liabilities to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. These transfers will be made by transfer schemes made under section 30 of the Public Bodies Act 2011 and will take effect at 0.01 a.m. on 1st July 2012. The Secretary of State may make orders to facilitate or secure that activities begun by a regional development agency may be continued or completed by another person (section 30(4) to (6)) and to make other consequential, supplementary, incidental or transitional provision or saving (section 30(7)).