Introduction Details of the Section
2.Section 3(1) of the National Loans Act 1968 (‘the 1968 Act’) enables the Treasury to issue out of the National Loans Fund such sums required by the PWLB in making loans under that Act and any future Act. The power to make local loans under the 1968 Act includes a power to enter into undertakings to make loans (section 3(5) of the 1968 Act).
3.Both powers are subject to the limit for local loans out in section 4(1) of the 1968 Act. That section currently provides that the aggregate of – (a) any commitments of the PWLB to grant local loans, and (b) any amount outstanding in respect of the principal of any local loans – must not exceed £55,000 million or such lower or higher sum not exceeding £70,000 million as the Treasury may from time to time specify by order.
4.This section replaces the amounts £55,000 million and £70,000 million with the amounts £85 billion and £95 billion respectively. The new limit of £85 billion will come into effect at an appropriate date in the future via commencement order. This limit can be changed to another (lower or higher) amount not exceeding £95billion at a later date via secondary legislation.