Water Resources Act 1991

147 Grants for drainage works. E+W

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the relevant Minister may make grants towards expenditure incurred by the [F1 Agency] in—

(a) the improvement of existing drainage works; or

(b) the construction of new drainage works.

(2) Grants under subsection (1) above shall be—

(a) of such amounts as the Treasury may from time to time sanction; and

(b) subject to such conditions as may, with the approval of the Treasury, be prescribed by regulations made by the relevant Minister.

(3) No grant shall be made under subsection (1) above towards expenditure incurred in connection with any improvement or construction unless—

(a) the plans and sections for it have been approved by the relevant Minister; and

(b) the relevant Minister is satisfied that the work is being or has been properly carried out.

(4) The relevant Minister may, with the approval of the Treasury, make grants to the [F1 Agency] in respect of expenditure properly incurred by it with a view to.

[F2 (a)] carrying out drainage works, being expenditure towards which, if the works had been properly carried out, a grant would have been payable under subsection (1) above

[F3 (b) enabling it to determine in any particular case whether drainage works, or drainage works of any particular description, should or should not be carried out;

(c) obtaining or organising information, including information about natural processes affecting the coastline, to enable it to formulate or develop its plans with respect to the defence against sea water of any part of the coastline; or

(d) obtaining, at any time after the carrying out of drainage works, information with respect to—

(i) the quality or effectiveness, or the effect on the environment, of those works; or

(ii) any matter of a financial nature relating to those works.

(4A) Paragraphs (b) to (d) of subsection (4) above are without prejudice to any power—

(a) to make any grant under subsection (1) or (4)(a) above, or

(b) to impose any condition under subsection (2) above,

which could be made or imposed apart from those paragraphs.]

(5) Where the [F1 Agency] is about to incur—

(a) such expenditure in respect of any work as is expenditure towards which, if the work is properly carried out, a grant will be payable under subsection (1) above; or

(b) expenditure in respect of which it appears to the relevant Minister that a grant will be payable under subsection (4) above,

the relevant Minister may, with the approval of the Treasury, make advances to the [F1 Agency] on account of the expenditure.

(6) In this section “the relevant Minister”—

(a) in relation to Wales, means the Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to England, means the Minister.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 147 substituted (subject to other provisions of the amending Act) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120, Sch. 22 para. 128 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F2 S. 147(4)(a) re numbered (21.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 101(1) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/1983, art. 3

F3 S. 147(4)(a)-(d)(4A) added (21.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 101(1) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/1983, art. 3