Before granting a F2section 2C licence or a project licence under this Act the Secretary of State shall consult one of the inspectors appointed under this Act and may also consult an independent assessor or F3the Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes established by this Act.

Before granting a personal licence under this Act the Secretary of State may consult one of those inspectors, an independent assessor or that Committee.

Where the Secretary of State proposes to consult an independent assessor he shall notify the applicant of that fact, and in selecting the assessor he shall have regard to any representations made by the applicant.