The Scottish Ministers may appoint a person to sit with the appointed person at an inquiry session to advise the appointed person on such matters arising as the Scottish Ministers may specify (“an assessor”) and where they do so they are to notify every person entitled to appear at the inquiry session of the name of the assessor and of the matters on which the assessor is to advise the appointed person.

Where an assessor has been appointed, the assessor may (and if so required by the appointed person, must), after the close of the inquiry session, make a report in writing to the appointed person in respect of the matters on which the assessor was appointed to advise.