Section 395: The Authority’s procedures
696.This section concerns the Authority’s decision-making procedures. It is for the Authority to decide on its procedures but subsection (2) requires that, to avoid prejudice, they should be designed to ensure that the task of deciding whether to issue a warning, decision or supervisory notice and the task of collecting relevant information should be carried out by different people. However, subsections (3) and (4) provide that the procedures can provide for this requirement to be waived for supervisory notices (as defined in subsection (13)) if necessary to protect the interests of consumers, so long as the decision is taken by a person at an appropriate level of seniority given the importance of the decision.
697.The Authority is required by subsections (5) and (6) to issue and publish a statement describing its procedures. It must be published in a way appearing to the Authority best calculated to bring it to the attention of the public and a reasonable fee may be charged for providing a copy. A copy of the statement must also be given without delay to the Treasury. The Authority must also publish a revised statement if it decides to change the procedures. Under subsection (9) the Authority must act in accordance with its published procedures. Subsection (11) ensures that the validity of any notices given in such a case is not affected by any failure to do so. However, subsection (12) makes clear that the Tribunal can take into account any failure to follow the procedures.