1Education and training: grants
(1)The Scottish Ministers may make regulations authorising grants to be paid to, or in respect of, individuals—
(a)who are parties to arrangements which qualify under section 2 of this Act;
(b)who hold accounts which qualify under section 100 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21); or
(c)who are parties to such arrangements and hold such accounts,
in connection with their education or training.
(2)Regulations under this section may provide—
(a)that grants may not be paid unless such conditions as are specified in the regulations are satisfied;
(b)that the amounts of grants, and when and how they are paid, are to be decided by the Scottish Ministers;
(c)that grants may be paid on such terms as the Scottish Ministers decide and that the terms may include terms requiring repayment in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations;
(d)that if an individual—
(i)is a party to arrangements which qualify under section 2 of this Act; and
(ii)holds an account which qualifies under section 100 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21),
grants shall not be payable both in respect of those arrangements and that account in relation to the same period of time;
(e)that if grants are payable under the regulations they may be paid to persons providing education or training;
(f)that if grants are payable under the regulations they may be paid by the Scottish Ministers or by other persons under arrangements made with them; and
(g)that if arrangements are made under paragraph (f) above the Scottish Ministers may pay the persons with whom they are made—
(i)remuneration; or
(ii)amounts to meet their expenses.
(3)Conditions such as are mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) above may include conditions as to the kinds of education or training in respect of which grants are payable under this section.
(4)Conditions such as are mentioned in subsection (3) above may include provision for the kinds of education and training to be specified—
(a)by the Scottish Ministers in such way as they think fit; or
(b)if the Scottish Ministers so decide, by a person who (at the time of the specification) is designated by them for the purposes of this subsection and who specifies in a way they stipulate.
(5)Conditions such as are mentioned in subsection (3) above may include a requirement that such kinds of education or training as may be specified in the regulations are to be provided by persons for the time being approved—
(a)by the Scottish Ministers; or
(b)if they so decide, by a person who (at the time of the approval) is designated by them for the purposes of this subsection.
(6)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend any reference in this section to a section of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21) in consequence of any renumbering of clauses of the Bill for that Act during the passage of that Bill.