Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975

10 Execution of works and disposal of land held under Act

(1) The Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury, carry out—

(a) on land of which possession has been taken under this Act; and

(b) on other land, by agreement with the persons interested therein,

works for any purpose for which land may be acquired under this Act and (in any designated sea area) works for facilitating the execution of relevant operations, and may, with the like approval, defray or contribute towards the cost of such works.

(2) The Secretary of State may dispose of the whole of his interest in any land, of which possession has been taken under this Act, to any body or person in order to enable them to provide any such housing, services or facilities as are required in terms of paragraph (d) of section 1(2) of this Act; but, save as aforesaid, the Secretary of State shall not dispose of the whole of his interest in any such land unless it appears to him—

(a) that the land is no longer needed for any purpose for which land may be acquired under this Act; and

(b) either that such steps have been taken as appear to him to be required for the purpose of reinstating the land in terms of subsection (1) of section 8 of this Act, or that, in terms of subsection (2) of that section, the said subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the land.

(3) The Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation or any local authority may act as agent for the Secretary of State in the carrying out of any works under this section or under section 8 of this Act, and may provide other services for the Secretary of State in relation to his functions under this Act.

(4) The Secretary of State may defray or contribute towards any expenses incurred by the Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation or by a local authority in relation to any functions performed by them under subsection (3) above.