Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

38 Grants and loans by Nature Conservancy Council

(1) The Nature Conservancy Council may, with the consent of, or in accordance with a general authorisation given by, the Secretary of State, 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 or to be incurred by him in doing anything which, in their opinion, is conducive to nature conservation or fostering the understanding of nature conservation.

(2) No consent or general authorisation shall be given by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) without the approval of the Treasury.

(3) On making a grant or loan under this section the Council may impose such conditions as they think fit including (in the case of a grant) conditions for repayment in specified circumstances.

(4) The Council shall so exercise their powers under subsection (3) as to ensure that any person receiving a grant or loan under this section in respect of premises to which the public are to be admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, shall, in the means of access both to and within the premises, and in the parking facilities and sanitary conveniences to be available (if any), make provision, so far as it is in the circumstances both practicable and reasonable, for the needs of members of the public visiting the premises who are disabled.

(5) The exercise of the Council's powers under this section shall be subject to any direction given to the Council by the Secretary of State.

(6) Section 3 of the [1973 c. 54.] Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 (which is superseded by this section) shall cease to have effect.