Quotas for purposes of international etc obligations.

1 A Minister of the Crown may make an order containing provision such as is specified in subsection (2) where— a an international obligation or an assimilated obligation is an obligation to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise); and b the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which is or includes the whole or part of Northern Ireland). 2 The provision referred to in subsection (1) is provision for the achievement by a Minister or Northern Ireland department (in the exercise of his or its functions) of so much of the result to be achieved under the international obligation or assimilated obligation as is specified in the order. 3 The order may specify the time by which any part of the result to be achieved by the Minister or department is to be achieved. 4 Where an order under subsection (1) is in force in relation to an international obligation ..., the obligation shall have effect for the purposes of this Act as if it were an obligation to achieve so much of the result to be achieved under the obligation as is specified in the order by the time or times so specified. 4A Where an order under subsection (1) is in force in relation to an assimilated obligation, the Minister or Northern Ireland department must (in the exercise of the Minister's or the department's functions) achieve so much of the result to be achieved under the obligation as is specified in the order by the time or times so specified. 5 No order shall be made by a Minister of the Crown under subsection (1) unless he has consulted the Minister or department concerned.