18.—(1) Where an application is forwarded for onward transmission to another Member State pursuant to paragraph 17 the Scottish Ministers shall notify the applicant and SEPA and, in a case where the application has not been referred to them under paragraph 14–
(a)SEPA shall not determine the application until the Scottish Ministers have notified it in writing (or in electronic form) that the bilateral consultations mentioned in paragraph 17 have been completed and have forwarded to it any representations duly made on the application by persons in the other Member State which have been forwarded to the Scottish Ministers; and
(b)the 4 month period within which to give notice of determination of the application set out in paragraph 15 shall begin on the date on which SEPA receives notification from the Scottish Ministers that the bilateral consultations have been completed.
(2) In determining an application which is forwarded to another Member State pursuant to paragraph 17, SEPA, or the Scottish Ministers if the application has been referred to them, shall take into consideration any representations duly made in the other Member State which have been forwarded to the Scottish Ministers.