3Functions of the Secretary of State in relation to the Railways Board under certain transport regulations
(1)The Secretary of State shall be the competent authority of Great Britain in relation to the Railways Board for the purposes of the relevant transport regulations and, as that authority, may give directions to the Board imposing on them obligations of a general nature with respect to the operation of the whole or any part of their railway passenger system.
(2)It shall fall to the Secretary of State to make any payments which are required to be made to the Board by any provision of those regulations and he may, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of those regulations, determine the manner of calculating, and the conditions applicable to, those payments.
(3)Any directions under subsection (1) above may be varied or revoked by subsequent directions thereunder.
(4)The power of giving directions under subsection (1) above shall be so exercised that the aggregate amount of any compensation payable under the relevant transport regulations in respect of all obligations imposed by directions for the time being in force under that subsection shall not exceed £900 million or such greater sum not exceeding £1,500 million as may be specified by Order in Council.
(5)Her Majesty shall not be recommended to make an Order under subsection (4) above unless a draft of the Order has been approved by resolution of the Commons House of Parliament.
(6)The obligations imposed by any directions under subsection (1) above shall not give rise to any form of duty or liability enforceable against the Board by proceedings before any court to which the Board would not otherwise be subject.
(7)Section 39 of the 1968 Act (grants for unremunerative passenger services) shall cease to have effect.