(1)The Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury, incur expenditure in preparation for a high speed railway transport network.
(2)The network referred to in subsection (1) is a network which—
(a)involves the construction of railway lines connecting at least—
London,
Birmingham,
the East Midlands,
Sheffield,
Leeds, and
Manchester, and
(b)connects with the existing railway transport network as well as with such other parts of the transport network (including roads, footpaths, cycleways, airports and light railways) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(3)The expenditure which may be incurred under subsection (1) includes expenditure on—
(a)preparation for the construction of any railway line and any other infrastructure proposed to be included at any time in the network referred to in subsection (1), and
(b)preparation for the provision of services as part of that network.
(4)The expenditure mentioned in subsection (3) includes expenditure incurred—
(a)on pre-construction activity (such as surveying and design),
(b)in acquiring property, and
(c)in providing compensation in respect of property likely to be affected.
(5)In this Act, references to incurring expenditure include incurring liabilities.
(6)Expenditure incurred under this section is to be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament.