31.—(1) The Department may by order exercise any one or more of the powers conferred by paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) This paragraph confers power to provide that, before the Director makes a specified decision in relation to a licence holder, the Director—
(a)shall give to the licence holder a written notice stating—
(i)that he is considering making the decision and the reasons why he is considering doing so; and
(ii)that the licence holder may, within a period specified in the notice, make written representations to him or, if the licence holder so requests, make oral representations to a person appointed by him for the purpose; and
(b)shall consider any representations which are duly made and not withdrawn.
(3) This paragraph confers power to provide that, where the Director makes a specified decision in relation to a licence holder, the Director shall as soon as practicable give to the licence holder a written notice explaining why it appeared to him to be appropriate to make the decision.
(4) This paragraph confers power to provide that, where a specified decision made or proposed to be made in relation to a licence holder will or may materially affect any specified person, any provision made by virtue of paragraph (2) or (3) shall, with any specified modifications, apply in relation to that person.
(5) Nothing in any order made under this Article shall require the Director to disclose any information the disclosure of which he considers would or might seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of a particular individual or body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate.
(6) In this Article—
“decision” means any decision under this Part, or under a condition of a licence, other than a decision to make a provisional order under Article 19;
“specified”, in relation to an order under this Article, means specified in the order or of a description so specified;
and references to a licence holder include references to an applicant for a licence.