120.Paragraph 4(1)(a) allows a court or tribunal to issue a general direction under paragraph 3(1) that applies to all proceedings of a specified type, provided that the only party to such proceedings is a public official. This allows a court, for example, to issue a direction as to how applications for search warrants should be made by the procurator fiscal. Subparagraph (1)(b) allows a court or tribunal to issue a further direction overriding a general direction issued under subparagraph (1)(a) in individual cases. The requirement to give parties the opportunity to make representations under paragraph 3(6)(a) does not apply in relation to a general direction issued by virtue of paragraph 4(1)(a).