1.—(1) Before making an order under Article 15 a wages council shall make such inquiries as it thinks fit and shall—
(a)publish in the prescribed manner notice of any rate or limit which the council proposes to fix under paragraph (1) of that Article (whether for the first time or in substitution for any existing rate or limit); and
(b)give the prescribed notice for the purpose of informing, so far as practicable, all persons affected by the council’s proposals, stating the place where copies of the proposals may be obtained and the period within which written representations with respect to the proposals may be sent to the council, being a period of not less than 28 days beginning with the date of publication of the notice.
(2) Once the council has considered any written representations made with respect to the proposals within the period referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) and made any further inquiries which the council considers necessary, or once that period has ended without any such representations being so made, the council may—
(a)make an order under Article 15 giving effect to the proposals; or
(b)make such an order giving effect to the proposals with such modifications as the council thinks fit having regard to any such representations.
(3) Sub-paragraph (2)(b) is without prejudice to Article 15(6).