244.Paragraph 9(1)(a) allows a court or tribunal to issue a general direction under paragraph 8(1) that applies to all proceedings of a specified type, provided that the only party to such proceedings is a public official. This would allow a court, for example, to issue a direction as to how applications for search warrants should be made by the procurator fiscal. Paragraph (b) allows a court or tribunal to issue a further direction overriding a general direction issued under paragraph (a) in individual cases. The requirement to give parties the opportunity to make representations under paragraph 8(6)(a) in relation to a general direction issued by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(a) is disapplied.