SCHEDULE Determination of Appeals by Person Appointed by Secretary of State
Local inquiries and hearings
I16
1
Whether or not the parties to an appeal have asked for an opportunity to appear and be heard, an appointed person—
a
may hold a local inquiry in connection with the appeal; and
b
shall do so if the Secretary of State so directs.
F51B
Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of an appeal to the Welsh Ministers, but an appointed person may hold a hearing or a local inquiry in connection with such an appeal pursuant to a determination under section 21B.
2
Where an appointed person—
a
holds a hearing by virtue of paragraph 2(4) F3or this paragraph; or
b
holds an inquiry by virtue of this paragraph,
an assessor may be appointed by the Secretary of State to sit with the appointed person at the hearing or inquiry to advise him on any matters arising, notwithstanding that the appointed person is to determine the appeal.
3
Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the costs—
a
of any hearing held by virtue of paragraph 2(4) F4or this paragraph; and
b
of any inquiry held under this paragraph,
shall be defrayed by the Secretary of State.
4
Section 250(2) to (5) of the M1Local Government Act 1972 (local inquiries: evidence and costs) applies to an inquiry held by virtue of this paragraph F6in England with the following adaptations—
a
for the references in subsection (4) (recovery of costs of holding the inquiry) to the Minister causing the inquiry to be held there shall be substituted references to the Secretary of State; and
b
for the reference in subsection (5) (orders as to the costs of the parties) to the Minister causing the inquiry to be held there shall be substituted a reference to the appointed person or the Secretary of State.
F74A
Subsections (2) and (3) of that section apply to an inquiry held under this paragraph in Wales.
5
Subject to sub-paragraph (6), at any F8inquiry held by virtue of this paragraph oral evidence shall be heard in public and documentary evidence shall be open to public inspection.
C26
If the Secretary of State is satisfied in the case of any such inquiry—
a
that giving evidence of a particular description or, as the case may be, making it available for inspection would be likely to result in the disclosure of information as to any of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (7); and
b
that the public disclosure of that information would be contrary to the national interest,
he may direct that evidence of the description indicated in the direction shall only be heard or, as the case may be, open to inspection at that inquiry by such persons or persons of such descriptions as he may specify in that direction.
7
The matters referred to in sub-paragraph (6)(a) are—
a
national security; and
b
the measures taken or to be taken to ensure the security of any premises or property.
C1F18
The appointed person or the Secretary of State has the same power to make orders under section 250(5) of the M2Local Government Act 1972 (orders with respect to costs of the parties) in relation to proceedings F9in England under this Schedule which do not give rise to an inquiry as he has in relation to such an inquiry.
F26A
1
If the Secretary of State is considering giving a direction under paragraph 6(6) the Attorney General may appoint a person to represent the interests of any person who will be prevented from hearing or inspecting any evidence at a local inquiry if the direction is given.
2
If before the Secretary of State gives a direction under paragraph 6(6) no person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1), the Attorney General may at any time appoint a person as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) for the purposes of the inquiry.
3
The Lord Chancellor may by rules make provision—
a
as to the procedure to be followed by the Secretary of State before he gives a direction under paragraph 6(6) in a case where a person has been appointed under sub-paragraph (1);
b
as to the functions of a person appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2).
4
If a person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) (the appointed representative) the Secretary of State may direct any person who he thinks is interested in the inquiry in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph 6(7) (the responsible person) to pay the fees and expenses of the appointed representative.
5
If the appointed representative and the responsible person are unable to agree the amount of the fees and expenses, the amount must be determined by the Secretary of State.
6
The Secretary of State must cause the amount agreed between the appointed representative and the responsible person or determined by him to be certified.
7
An amount so certified is recoverable from the responsible person as a civil debt.
8
Rules made under sub-paragraph (3) must be contained in a statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
9
Sub-paragraph (10) applies if—
a
a person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), but
b
no inquiry is held as mentioned in paragraph 6(1).
10
Sub-paragraphs (4) to (7) above apply in respect of the fees and expenses of the person appointed as if the inquiry had been held.
11
For the purposes of sub-paragraph (10) the responsible person is the person to whom the Secretary of State thinks he would have given a direction under sub-paragraph (4) if an inquiry had been held.
12
Sub-paragraphs (9) to (11) do not affect paragraph 6(8).