4U.K.In section 18 of the Patents Act 1977 (substantive examination and grant or refusal of patent), after subsection (1) insert—
“(1A)If the examiner forms the view that a supplementary search under section 17 above is required for which a fee is payable, he shall inform the comptroller, who may decide that the substantive examination should not proceed until the fee is paid; and if he so decides, then unless within such period as he may allow—
(a)the fee is paid, or
(b)the application is amended so as to render the supplementary search unnecessary,
he may refuse the application.”.