Localism Act 2011

86 Provision of advice and assistance

(1) The Secretary of State may do anything that the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of giving advice or assistance to a relevant body in relation to—

(a) the preparation of an expression of interest for submission to a relevant authority and its submission to a relevant authority,

(b) participation in a procurement exercise carried out by a relevant authority in response to an expression of interest, or

(c) the provision of a relevant service on behalf of a relevant authority following such a procurement exercise.

(2) The Secretary of State may do anything that the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of giving advice or assistance about the operation of this Chapter to a body or person other than a relevant body.

(3) The things that the Secretary of State may do under this section include, in particular—

(a) the provision of financial assistance to a relevant body;

(b) the making of arrangements with a body or person (whether or not a relevant body), including arrangements for things that may be done by the Secretary of State under this section to be done by that body or person;

(c) the provision of financial assistance to a body or person other than a relevant body in connection with arrangements under paragraph (b).

(4) In this section references to a relevant body include a body that the Secretary of State considers was formed wholly or partly by employees or former employees of the relevant authority for the purposes of, or for purposes including—

(a) participating in a procurement exercise carried out by the authority, or

(b) providing a relevant service on the authority’s behalf.

(5) In this section—

(a) the reference to giving advice or assistance includes providing training or education, and

(b) any reference to the provision of financial assistance is to the provision of financial assistance by any means (including the making of a loan and the giving of a guarantee or indemnity).