Section 52 | Arrangements for third party to exercise functions

(1)The Secretary of State may make arrangements for a person prescribed by regulations under this section to exercise a relevant function of the Secretary of State (and, where arrangements are made, references in this Part, or in regulations made under this Part, to the Secretary of State are to be read accordingly).

(2)Arrangements under this section may—

(a)provide for the Secretary of State to make payments to the person, and

(b)make provision as to the circumstances in which any such payments are to be repaid to the Secretary of State.

(3)Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

(4)In this section, “relevant function” means a function of the Secretary of State conferred by or under this Part (including the function of charging or recovering fees under regulations under section 39) other than a power to make regulations.

(5)If a person exercises the function of charging or recovering fees by virtue of arrangements under this section, the person must pay the fees to the Secretary of State, except to the extent that the Secretary of State directs otherwise.