(1) In the Credit Unions Act 1979 (c. 34), before section 24 (under the heading "General and miscellaneous") insert -

"23A Power to make provision corresponding to provision applying to building societies

(1) The Treasury may by regulations amend this Act so as to make provision for credit unions corresponding to any enactment applying to building societies.

(2) The power conferred by subsection (1) may not be exercised so as to modify any of the following provisions of this Act -

(a) sections 1 and 2 (registration as a credit union);

(b) section 3 (use of name "credit union");

(c) section 8 (general prohibition on deposit-taking), but without prejudice to the power to add exceptions to those in sections 9 and 10 and to modify those sections;

(d) section 21 (amalgamations and transfers of engagements);

(e) section 22 (no conversion of credit union into company, etc.);

(f) section 23 (conversion of company into credit union).