Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Research, training courses and financial and other assistance

8 Research

(1) The Secretary of State may conduct or assist other persons in conducting research into any matter connected with his functions or the functions of local authorities in relation to social welfare, and with the activities of voluntary organisations connected with those functions.

(2) Any local authority may conduct or assist other persons in conducting research into any matter connected with their functions in relation to social welfare.

(3) The Secretary of State and any local authority may make financial assistance available in connection with any research which they may conduct or which they may assist other persons in conducting under the provisions of this section.

9 Training courses and grants for training in social work

(1) The Secretary of State may provide courses of training for persons with a view to, or in the course of, their employment or the use of their services for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Secretary of State may make grants of such amounts, and subject to such conditions, as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine towards any fees or expenses incurred by persons undergoing training for any of the purposes of this Act in circumstances such that it appears to the Secretary of State requisite that the grants should be made, and may defray or contribute towards the cost of maintenance of persons undergoing such training.

(3) The Secretary of State may make grants of such amounts, and subject to such conditions, as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine towards expenses incurred by any body of persons in providing training as aforesaid.

10 Financial and other assistance to voluntary organisations etc., for social work

(1) The Secretary of State may make grants and loans of such amounts, and subject to such conditions, as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine towards expenses incurred by voluntary organisations or other persons engaged in any activity connected with his functions or the functions of local authorities under this Act, in circumstances where it appears to the Secretary of State that such grants or loans should be made.

(2) The conditions on which any grants are paid under the foregoing subsection may include conditions for securing the repayment in whole or in part of such grants.

(3) A local authority may make contributions by way of grant or loan to any voluntary organisation the sole or primary object of which is to promote social welfare.

(4) A local authority may also make available to such a voluntary organisation as aforesaid the use of premises belonging to the authority on such terms as may be agreed, and furniture, vehicles or equipment (whether by way of gift, loan or otherwise) and the services of any staff employed by the authority in connection with the premises or other things belonging to the local authority which the voluntary organisation is permitted to use.

(5) On the commencement of this Act, the power of the Secretary of State to give financial assistance and of local authorities to give financial and other assistance under sections 64 and 65 of the [1968 c. 46.] Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 shall cease in so far as any such assistance may be given under this section.