Higher Education and Research Act 2017

110 Amendments to powers to support research

(1) In section 5 of the Science and Technology Act 1965 (further powers of Secretary of State), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1ZA) The power to give financial support under subsection (1)(a) includes, in particular, power to make a grant, loan or other payment, on such terms and conditions as the relevant authority considers appropriate.

(1ZB) The terms and conditions may, in particular—

(a) enable the relevant authority to require the repayment, in whole or in part, of sums paid by it if any of the terms and conditions subject to which the sums were paid is not complied with,

(b) require the payment of interest in respect of any period during which a sum due to the relevant authority in accordance with any of the terms and conditions remains unpaid, and

(c) require a person to whom financial support is given to provide the relevant authority with any information it requests for the purpose of the exercise of any of its functions.

(1ZC) In subsections (1ZA) and (1ZB), “the relevant authority” means—

(a) in the case of the power of the Secretary of State to give financial support under subsection (1)(a), the Secretary of State;

(b) in the case of the power of the Welsh Ministers to give financial support under subsection (1)(a), the Welsh Ministers;

(c) in the case of the power of the Scottish Ministers to give financial support under subsection (1)(a), the Scottish Ministers.”

(2) In section 10 of the Higher Education Act 2004 (research in arts and humanities), after subsection (4) insert—

“(5) The powers under this section to give financial support include, in particular, power to make a grant, loan or other payment, on such terms and conditions as the relevant authority considers appropriate.

(6) The terms and conditions may, in particular—

(a) enable the relevant authority to require the repayment, in whole or in part, of sums paid by it if any of the terms and conditions subject to which the sums were paid is not complied with,

(b) require the payment of interest in respect of any period during which a sum due to the relevant authority in accordance with any of the terms and conditions remains unpaid, and

(c) require a person to whom financial support is given to provide the relevant authority with any information it requests for the purpose of the exercise of any of its functions.

(7) In subsections (5) and (6), “the relevant authority” means—

(a) in the case of the power under subsection (1)(a), the Secretary of State;

(b) in the case of the power under subsection (2)(a), the Welsh Ministers;

(c) in the case of the power under subsection (3)(a), the Scottish Ministers;

(d) in the case of the power under subsection (4)(a), the Northern Ireland Department having responsibility for higher education.”