This legislation has been repealed.
(1) If the Minister considers, on reasonable grounds:(a) that a public authority has failed to exercise a function conferred or imposed on it (other than a power to make regulations or by-laws), and(b) that the failure is likely to endanger the health of the public,the Minister may, by written notice to the public authority, require it to exercise the function within a time stated in the notice.
(2) If a notice given under this section is not complied with, the Minister may exercise the function to which the notice relates and:(a) unless the public authority represents the Crown--recover, as a debt owed by the public authority to the Crown, an amount equal to the cost of exercising the function, or(b) if the public authority represents the Crown--require the public authority to pay to the Department of Health an amount equal to the cost of exercising the function.