Order of Council
An Order of Council is a form of delegated legislation in the United Kingdom. It is made by the Lords of the Privy Council (in practice, Ministers of the Government).
Orders of Council differ from Orders in Council in that, whilst the latter are Orders made by the Queen meeting with the Privy Council, Orders of Council are made by the Council in its own right and without requiring the Queen's approval. The preamble of all Orders of Council states that the Order was made at a meeting of the Council held in Whitehall; however, in practice they are all approved through correspondence, and no meeting is actually held. [1]
Orders of Council are primarily restricted to the following areas:
- regulation of the medical and veterinary professions - Orders concerning the constitution, powers and rules of the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Dental Council, General Optical Council, Health Professions Council and the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- regulation of the higher education sector - Orders regarding the constitutions of Universities.
Lists of Orders of Council made since 2000 can be found on the Privy Council Office website.
References
- ^ Privy Council webpage on its Order-making powers, retrieved 25 April 2008