1. This Order may be cited as the Race Relations Act 1976 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1977.

2. In this Order "the Act" means the Race Relations Act 1976.

3. Part X of the Act (Supplemental), other than sections 71, 72, 76 and 79(1), (3), (4), (5) and (6), shall come into operation on 28th April 1977.

4. The following provisions of the Act shall come into operation on 28th April 1977 for the purpose of bringing into existence the Commission for Racial Equality and enabling it to make arrangements for the exercise of its functions from the date on which the repeal of the Race Relations Act 1968 by the Act takes effect-

section 43(1) to (4) (Establishment and duties of Commission); and Schedule 1.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order brings into operation on 28th April 1977 Part X (Supplemental) of the Race Relations Act 1976 with certain exceptions. The exceptions are sections 71 (Local authorities: general statutory duty), 72 (Validity and revision of contracts), 76 (Government appointments outside section 21) and subsections (1), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of section 79 which relate respectively to the bringing into operation of Schedules 2 (Transitional Provisions), 3 (Minor and consequential amendments), 4 (Amendments of Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65)) and 5 (Repeals). The Order also brings into operation on 28th April 1977 provisions of the 1976 Act relating to the establishment of the Commission for Racial Equality for the purpose of establishing the Commission and enabling it to make arrangements for the exercise of its functions on and after the date on which the repeal of the Race Relations Act 1968 takes effect.