Orders in Council

Orders in Council are classified as secondary legislation.

They are issued by the Privy Council and often relate to the regulation of professional bodies, or the transfer of responsibilities between government departments.

Usually, alterations to legislation are made by using statutory instruments, which are made under the authority of a parent Act of Parliament, but in cases where this is inappropriate Orders in Council are used.

For example, Orders in Council were used to hand powers previously held by Westminster to the devolved assemblies.