The Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet Office may by order designate as a public authority for the purposes of this Act any person who is neither listed in Schedule 1 nor capable of being added to that Schedule by an order under section 4(1), but who—
appears to the Secretary of Stateor the Minister for the Cabinet Office to exercise functions of a public nature, or
is providing under a contract made with a public authority any service whose provision is a function of that authority.
An order under this section may designate a specified person or office or persons or offices falling within a specified description.
Before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet Office shall consult every person to whom the order relates, or persons appearing to him to represent such persons.
This section has effect subject to section 80.