(1)The Scottish Ministers may, if they are satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, make grants or other payments for the purpose of securing orencouraging the carriage of goods by inland waterway or by sea rather than by road.
(2)Grants or payments under this section may in particular be made in respect of facilities for or in connection with the carriage of goods by inland waterway or by sea (including facilities for loading or unloading goods).
(3)Grants or payments under this section shall be of such amount and subject to such conditions (including conditions requiring their repayment in specified circumstances) as the Scottish Ministers may determine.
(4)A determination under subsection (3) above may be made either generally or in relation to particular cases or classes of case.
(5)In this section “inland waterway” includes both a natural and an artificial inland waterway.
(6)Section 140 of the Railways Act 1993 (c. 43) (grants to assist the provision of facilities for freight haulage by inland waterway) is repealed.