Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992

Long title

The long title of an Act is of significance because it forms part of the Act, and is the 'first of the elements of an Act... that can be used to find the meaning of the Act, and generally its scope.' in future legal decisions. The long title of the Act is 'An Act to make provision with respect to functions relating to the management of Her Majesty’s Home Civil Service; and to make provision about parliamentary procedure in relation to legislation for Northern Ireland making corresponding provision with respect to the Northern Ireland Civil Service.'

Territorial extent

Section 3 extends to the whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, but sections 1 and 2 apply only to Great Britain.

Description

While arguing for the Act’s provisions during Second Reading in the Commons, the Bill Minister, William Waldegrave, said that:

The Act’s purpose is to resolve a legal barrier to the better management of the civil service. At the moment, the Government are constrained from devolving to Departments and agencies many detailed matters concerning the management of their staff. As a result, the present legal framework requires a highly centralised degree of control of the management of the civil service which is inimical to the good management of the many different and varied businesses of Departments and agencies.

Royal Assent

The Bill was given Royal Assent (and thus became an Act) on 17 December 1992.