(1)Where in the case of any land in a development area—
(a)it appears to the Minister that the land is derelict, neglected or unsightly ; and
(b)it appears to the Board that it is expedient with a view to contributing to the development of industry in that area that steps should be taken for the purpose of enabling the land (hereafter in this section referred to as " the derelict land ") to be brought into use or of improving its appearance,
the powers conferred by subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall be exercisable by the Board and the Minister respectively.
(2)The Board may acquire by agreement or, if so authorised, compulsorily the derelict land and any other land the acquisition of which is reasonably required for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of this section, and carry out on the derelict land and any other land such work as appears to them expedient for that purpose.
(3)The Minister may with the consent of the Treasury make grants, in such manner as appears to him to be requisite for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of this section, to the council of the county, county borough or county district in which the land in question is situated—
(a)towards the cost of the exercise of any power of the council to acquire the derelict land or any other land ;
(b)towards the cost of the carrying out by the council for that purpose of any work on the derelict land or on any other land.
(4)In this section " the Minister ", as respects land in England exclusive of Monmouthshire, means the Minister of Housing and Local Government and, as respects land in Scotland or in Wales or Monmouthshire, means the Secretary of State; and " land " includes land covered with water.
(5)In the application of subsection (3) of this section to Scotland for any reference to the council of the county, county borough or county district in which the land in question is situated there shall be substituted a reference to any local authority, as defined for the purposes of the [1947 c. 43.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, within whose area the land in question is situated.
(6)Section 5 of the [1960 c. 18.] Local Employment Act 1960 (which is superseded by this section) shall cease to have effect, but this subsection shall not preclude the making of a grant under that section by the Minister in any case in which an application for the grant was received by him before the commencement of this Act.