A Northern Ireland department may refuse to give to any unqualified person any financial assistance to which this Article applies or, where it has given or agreed to give such assistance to any unqualified person, refuse or cease to make any payments to him in pursuance of the assistance.

This Article applies to any financial assistance by way of grant or otherwise which may be given at the discretion of a Northern Ireland department, if the moneys required for giving the assistance are payable out of the Consolidated Fund or may be appropriated by Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.