(1)The Secretary of State may provide financial assistance—
(a)to a strategic highways company, for the purpose of any of its functions, or
(b)to any other person, for the promotion or improvement of transport services by land in England.
(2)Financial assistance may be provided in such form and on such terms as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(3)The form in which financial assistance may be provided includes in particular—
(a)grants,
(b)loans, or
(c)guarantees.
(4)The terms on which financial assistance may be provided include in particular—
(a)in the case of a grant or a loan, terms as to repayment;
(b)in the case of a guarantee, terms as to reimbursement.
(5)Subsection (1) does not affect any other power of the Secretary of State to provide financial assistance.
(6)Subsection (1)(b) does not authorise the Secretary of State to provide financial assistance that he or she may provide under section 6 of the Railways Act 2005 (financial assistance relating to rail services).
(7)In section 17(1)(e) of the Ministry of Transport Act 1919 (power to make advances for the promotion and improvement of transport services by land or water), after “by land” insert “in Wales”.