(1)This section applies to any contract in respect of which the consideration exceeds £15,000 and which is entered into after 22nd July 1987.
(2)Except with the consent of the Secretary of State, ILEA shall not after the passing of this Act enter into a contract to which this section applies.
(3)Subject to section 191(3)(b) of this Act, if at any time after 22nd July 1987 and before the passing of this Act ILEA has entered into a contract which would have been in contravention of the provisions of subsection (2) above if they had then been in force, the same consequences shall follow as if those provisions had been contravened by ILEA.
(4)Any consent for the purposes of this section may be given either in respect of a particular contract or in respect of contracts of any class or description and either unconditionally or subject to conditions.
(5)Any signification of consent, or of consent subject to specified conditions, given by the Secretary of State before the passing of this Act in respect of any contract to which this section applies shall be treated for the purposes of this section as a consent, or a consent subject to those conditions, given under this section.
(6)A contract shall not be void by reason only that it has been entered into in contravention of this section and (subject to section 190(2) of this Act) a person entering into a contract with ILEA shall not be concerned to enquire whether any consent required by this section has been given or complied with.
(7)Where the consideration or any of the consideration under a contract is not in money, the limit specified in subsection (1) above shall apply to the value of the consideration.
(8)This section does not apply to—
(a)a contract to dispose of land or to grant or dispose of any interest in land; or
(b)a contract of employment between ILEA and a person employed by it.