The Secretary of State may out of moneys provided by Parliament pay grants, of such amounts as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine, to local authorities who in his opinion are required in the exercise of any of their functions to incur expenditure by reason of the existence in any urban area of special social need.

Grants under this section may be paid at such times, subject to such conditions and on account of such expenditure (for the year 1968-69 or any later year) as the Secretary of State may determine.

The expressions “local authority” and “year” have the same meaning in this section, in its application to England and Wales, as they have for purposes of the M1Local Government Act 1966 by virtue of section 41 of that Act and, in its application to Scotland, as they have for purposes of the M2Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966 by virtue of section 46 of that Act F1except that in the application of this section to England and Wales “local authority” shall also include F2a police authority established under F3section 3 of the Police Act 1996 and . . . F4 a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985