(1)The [F1Secretary of State] may, out of moneys provided by Parliament, pay to any of the Research Councils such sums in respect of the expenses of the Council as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine, and so far as relates to the use and expenditure of sums so paid the Council shall act in accordance with such directions as may from time to time be given to it by the Secretary of State.
(2)The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the making of returns and reports by the Research Councils to the [F1Secretary of State], with respect to the keeping and auditing of their accounts and with respect to related matters.
(3)Land occupied in the United Kingdom by any of the Research Councils shall be deemed, for the purposes of any rate on property, to be property occupied by or on behalf of the Crown for public purposes.
(4)[F2The obligations of the Medical Research Council F3. . . under this section in relation to the [F1Secretary of State] shall be in place of any corresponding obligations imposed on [F4the Council] by its charter or otherwise F3. . .; and subject to the foregoing provisions of this subsection anything which under the charter of [F4the Council] is to be done by or to a committee of the Privy Council shall instead be done by or to the [F1Secretary of State].]
(5)Nothing in this Act or in any other enactment relating to the general functions of any of the Research Councils shall be taken as restricting the activities of a Research Council to the United Kingdom or any part thereof, nor shall the expenses in respect of which payments may be made under subsection (1) above be restricted to expenses incurred in the United Kingdom; but [F5, in the case of Research Councils other than F6. . . the Medical Research Council, the expenses of the Council] [F5the expenses of a Research Council ] in respect of which payments may be so made shall not include any expenses in so far as they may be incurred for objects falling outside the objects specified in relation to the Council [F7in section 1(2) or (3) above or] in the Order in Council declaring it to be a Research Council.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 2(1)(2)(4) substituted (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/2985, art. 5(1), Sch. para. 1(1)
F2S. 2(4) omitted (31.10.2018 for specified purposes) by virtue of Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (c. 29), s. 124(5), Sch. 12 para. 4(3)(a); S.I. 2018/1054, reg. 2(d)(ii)
F3Words in s. 2(4) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X, Group 4
F4Words in s. 2(4) substituted (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 11
F5Words in s. 2(5) substituted (31.10.2018 for specified purposes) by Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (c. 29), s. 124(5), Sch. 12 para. 4(3)(b)(i); S.I. 2018/1054, reg. 2(d)(ii)
F6Words in s. 2(5) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c.43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X, Group 4
F7Words in s. 2(5) omitted (31.10.2018 for specified purposes) by virtue of Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (c. 29), s. 124(5), Sch. 12 para. 4(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2018/1054, reg. 2(d)(ii)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S.2: Functions of the Secretary of State transferred (6.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1296, arts. 2(1),3