Greater London Authority Act 1999

22 (1) Transport for London may do anything which appears to it to be practicable and desirable for the purpose of promoting—

(a) research into matters affecting, or arising out of, the exercise of the functions of Transport for London or any of its subsidiaries, and

(b) the exploitation of the results of any research into any such matter (whether or not promoted by Transport for London) and of anything resulting from any idea affecting, or arising out of, the exercise of any of those functions.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b) above “exploitation” means the doing of any work requisite to enable the results or (as the case may be) the thing in question to be turned to account.

(3) Transport for London may exercise the powers under sub-paragraph (1) above by carrying out any research or work for that purpose itself or by arranging for it to be carried out or done by some other person with or without assistance (including financial assistance) from Transport for London.

(4) Nothing in this paragraph authorises Transport for London, either directly or through a subsidiary of Transport for London, to do any work which it would not have power to do apart from this paragraph.