(1)The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Regulator, by order grant exemption from the requirement to be authorised by licence to be the operator of such railway assets, or of railway assets of such a class or description, as may be specified in the order, but subject to compliance with such conditions (if any) as may be so specified.
(2)A licence exemption under subsection (1) above may be granted either—
(a)to persons of a particular class or description; or
(b)to a particular person;
and a licence exemption granted to persons of a particular class or description shall be published in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons of that class or description.
(3)If any person makes an application under this subsection to the Regulator for the grant of an exemption from the requirement to be authorised by licence to be the operator of such railway assets, or of railway assets of such a class or description, as he may specify in the application, the Regulator, after consultation with the Secretary of State—
(a)may either grant or refuse the exemption, whether wholly or to such extent as he may specify in the exemption; and
(b)if and to the extent that he grants it, may do so subject to compliance with such conditions (if any) as he may so specify.
(4)Before granting a licence exemption under subsection (3) above, the Regulator shall give notice—
(a)stating that he proposes to grant the licence exemption,
(b)stating the reasons why he proposes to grant the licence exemption; and
(c)specifying the time (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections with respect to the proposed licence exemption may be made,
and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.
(5)A notice under subsection (4) above shall be given by publishing the notice in such manner as the Regulator considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the grant of the licence exemption.
(6)If any condition (the “broken condition”) of a licence exemption is not complied with—
(a)the Secretary of State, in the case of a licence exemption under subsection (1) above, or
(b)the Regulator, in the case of a licence exemption under subsection (3) above,
may give to any relevant person a direction declaring that the licence exemption is revoked, so far as relating to that person, to such extent and as from such date as may be specified in the direction.
(7)For the purposes of subsection (6) above—
“condition”, in relation to a licence exemption, means any condition subject to compliance with which the licence exemption was granted;
“relevant person”, in the case of any licence exemption, means a person who has the benefit of the licence exemption and who—
is a person who failed to comply with the broken condition or with respect to whom the broken condition is not complied with; or
is the operator of any of the railway assets in relation to which the broken condition is not complied with.
(8)Where the Secretary of State or the Regulator gives a direction under subsection (6) above to any person, he may also direct that person to refrain from being the operator of any railway assets or of such railway assets, or railway assets of such a class or description, as may be specified in the direction by virtue of this subsection.
(9)Subject to subsection (6) above, a licence exemption, unless previously revoked in accordance with any term contained in the licence exemption, shall continue in force for such period as may be specified in, or determined by or under, the licence exemption.
(10)A licence exemption may be granted under subsection (1) above only if—
(a)the licence exemption is to come into force on the day on which section 6(1) above comes into force; or
(b)the licence exemption is to be granted on or before that day but is not to come into force until after that day;
and a licence exemption may be granted under subsection (3) above only if the licence exemption is not to come into force until after that day.
(11)Any application for a licence exemption under subsection (3) above must be made in writing; and where any such application is made, the Regulator may require the applicant to furnish him with such information as the Regulator may consider necessary to enable him to decide whether to grant or refuse the licence exemption.
(12)Licence exemptions may make different provision, or be granted subject to compliance with different conditions, for different cases.
(13)In this Part “licence exemption” means an exemption, granted under any provision of this section in respect of a railway asset or in respect of railway assets of any class or description, from the requirement to be authorised by licence to be the operator of that railway asset or, as the case may be, railway assets of that class or description.