(1)In accordance with arrangements approved by the Secretary of State and the Treasury, the Countryside Commission may give financial assistance by way of grant or loan, or partly in the one way and partly in the other, to any person in respect of expenditure incurred by him in doing anything which, in the opinion of the Commission, is conducive to the attainment of any of the purposes of the [1968 c. 41.] Countryside Act 1968 or the [1949 c. 97.] National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
(2)On making a grant or loan under this section the Countryside Commission may impose such conditions as they think fit including (in the case of a grant) conditions for repayment in specified circumstances.
(3)The exercise of the Countryside Commission's power under this section shall be subject to any directions given to the Commission by the Secretary of State.
(4)The provisions of this section shall have effect in place of the provisions of section 5 of the Countryside Act 1968 (under which grants may be made only to persons other than public bodies and only in respect of projects approved by the Secretary of State).