18Funding of preparatory work
(1)Provision may be made by regulations for authorities to make payments of financial assistance for preparatory work.
(2)“Preparatory work” means work which it is reasonable for a person to undertake—
(a)in connection with preparing proposals for a pilot scheme; or
(b)in preparing for the provision by him of any piloted services.
(3)Regulations under this section may, in particular, include provision—
(a)prescribing the circumstances in which payments of financial assistance may be made;
(b)imposing a limit on the amount of any payment of financial assistance which an authority may make in any prescribed period in respect of any one person or any one pilot scheme;
(c)imposing a limit on the aggregate amount which an authority may pay by way of financial assistance in any one financial year;
(d)requiring a person to whom assistance is given under this section to comply with such conditions as may be imposed in accordance with prescribed requirements; and
(e)for repayment in the case of a failure to comply with any condition so imposed.