Ministry of Works and Development Abolition Act 1988

1: Short Title and commencement
1: This Act may be cited as the Ministry of Works and Development Abolition Act 1988.
2: This Act shall come into force on 1 April 1988.
2: Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— responsible department of State responsible Minister of the Crown
3: Savings as to existing contracts
1: Where the Minister of Works and Development or any official of the Ministry of Works and Development, in relation to the conduct of the affairs of that Ministry, has entered into any contract (whether on behalf of the Crown or otherwise) all rights and duties of the Minister or official thereunder shall on the commencement of this Act be conferred and imposed on the responsible Minister of the Crown.
2: Any reference to the Minister of Works and Development wherever it occurs in any contract entered into by or on behalf of the Minister of Works and Development (whether on behalf of the Crown or otherwise) shall hereafter be read as a reference to the responsible Minister of the Crown.
3: Any reference to the Commissioner of Works or to a senior officer of the Ministry of Works and Development wherever they occur in any contract entered into by or on behalf of the Minister of Works and Development (whether on behalf of the Crown or otherwise) shall hereafter be read as a reference to the chief executive of the responsible department of State.
4: Savings as to existing proceedings, applications, and actions
1: Where, before the commencement of this section, the Minister of Works and Development or any officer of the Ministry of Works and Development, in relation to the conduct of the affairs of that Ministry, has—
a: initiated any criminal proceedings; or
b: become a party to any proceedings whatsoever; or
c: become a party to any arbitration, whether an arbitration within the meaning of the Arbitration Act 1908
d: made an application to any department of State, local authority, court, tribunal, or any other body pursuant to any Act; or
e: initiated any action under the authority of any statutory provision formerly administered by the Ministry of Works and Development— then such action, application, arbitration, or proceedings may be continued, completed, determined and enforced by or against any responsible Minister of the Crown.
2: On the commencement of this section all proceedings pending by or against the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority may be carried on, completed, and enforced by or against the Minister for the Environment.
5: Savings as to determination of disputes
Where any provision is made in any contract entered into by or on behalf of the Minister of Works and Development (whether on behalf of the Crown or otherwise) whereby the Commissioner of Works is empowered to hear and decide any matters in dispute between the parties, the following provisions shall apply:
a: any dispute may be heard and determined by the chief executive of the responsible department of State:
b: any reference to the chief executive of the responsible department of State shall be deemed to extend to and include any delegate of the chief executive:
c: notwithstanding any Act, rule of law, or provision in a contract to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall not invalidate or render null and void any contract to which they apply, and such contract shall enure for the benefit of and bind the parties to it:
d: where the Commissioner of Works, or any appointee of the Commissioner of Works, has commenced to hear any dispute before the commencement of this Act, the Commissioner or appointee may continue with the hearing and may issue a decision on behalf of the chief executive of the responsible department of State.
6: Savings as to continuance and transfer of consents, etc
1: Except where otherwise provided in this Act, any consent, privilege, grant, permit, or other right howsoever held by the Minister of Works and Development or by any officer of the Ministry of Works and Development in relation to the affairs of that Ministry may be transferred by a responsible Minister of the Crown—
a: in accordance with its terms and conditions; or
b: otherwise to any Minister of the Crown, department of State, or to any other person upon such terms and conditions as the responsible Minister of the Crown in his or her absolute discretion may determine but subject to any statutory provisions in that regard— and until transferred every such consent, privilege, grant, permit, or other right shall enure for the benefit of the Crown.
2: Any consent, approval, remission, or delegation given or granted by the Commissioner of Works prior to the commencement of this Act shall continue in force until amended, transferred, or revoked by any chief executive of a responsible department of State.
3: Every designation of land by the Minister of Works and Development under the Town and Country Planning Act 1977
7: Savings as to various documents
1: Any lease, licence, statutory land charge, mortgage, debenture, instrument by way of security, deed of covenant, deed of encumbrance, easement, profit à prendre
2: Any instrument relating to any interest referred to in subsection (1) the Registrar-General of Land, any Registrar of Companies, or any Registrar of the High Court Section 7(2) amended 12 November 2018 section 250 Land Transfer Act 2017
8: Amendments to local Acts
The enactments specified in the Schedule