Licensing of activities relating to gas

Licences: general.
7
After section 7A of the 1986 Act there shall be inserted the following section—

Licences: general.
7B
1
An application for a licence or an extension or restriction of a licence shall be made in such form and manner, and shall contain, or be accompanied by, such information and documents and such fee (if any), as may be prescribed.
2
Within the prescribed period after the making of an application for a licence or an extension or restriction of a licence, the applicant shall—
a
publish a notice of the application in the prescribed manner; and
b
in the case of an application for a licence or extension under section 7 above, give notice of the application to any public gas transporter whose authorised area includes the whole or any part of the area to which the application relates.
3
A licence or an extension or restriction of a licence shall be in writing and, unless revoked or suspended in accordance with any term contained in it, a licence shall continue in force for such period as may be specified in or determined by or under the licence.
4
A licence may include—
a
such conditions (whether or not relating to the activities authorised by the licence) as appear to the Director to be requisite or expedient having regard to the duties imposed by section 4 or 4A above;
b
such conditions requiring arrangements to be made with respect to the provision of special services for meeting the needs of consumers of gas conveyed through pipes who are chronically sick, disabled or of pensionable age as appear to the Director to be requisite or expedient having regard to those duties;
c
conditions requiring the rendering to the Director of a payment on the grant of the licence or payments during the currency of the licence or both of such amount or amounts as may be determined by or under the licence; and
d
conditions requiring the holder to furnish the Council in such manner and at such times with such information—
i
as appears to the Director to be requisite or expedient for the purpose of facilitating the exercise by the Council of the functions assigned to it by this Part; or
ii
as may be reasonably required by the Council for that purpose.
5
Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a) of subsection (4) above—
a
conditions included by virtue of that paragraph in a licence may—
i
require the holder to comply with any direction given by the Director or the Secretary of State as to such matters as are specified in the licence or are of a description so specified;
ii
require the holder, except in so far as the Director or the Secretary of State consents to his doing or not doing them, not to do or to do such things as are specified in the licence or are of a description so specified; and
iii
provide for the determination by the Director, the Secretary of State or the Health and Safety Executive of such questions arising under the licence, or under any document specified or described in the licence, as are specified in the licence or are of a description so specified; and
b
conditions included by virtue of that paragraph in a licence under section 7 above may require the holder, in such circumstances as are specified in the licence—
i
so to increase his charges for the conveyance of gas as to raise such amounts as may be determined by or under the conditions; and
ii
to pay the amounts so raised to such holders of licences under section 7A above as may be so determined.
6
Conditions included in a licence may—
a
impose requirements by reference to designation, acceptance or approval by the Director, the Secretary of State or the Health and Safety Executive; and
b
provide for references in the conditions to any document specified or described in the licence to operate as references to that document as revised or re-issued from time to time.
7
Conditions included in a licence may contain provision for the conditions to—
a
have effect or cease to have effect at such times and in such circumstances as may be determined by or under the conditions; or
b
be modified in such manner as may be specified in the conditions at such times and in such circumstances as may be so determined.
8
Any provision included in a licence by virtue of subsection (7) above shall have effect in addition to the provision made by this Part with respect to the modification of the conditions of a licence.
9
As soon as practicable after granting a licence or an extension or restriction of a licence, the Director shall send a copy of the licence or extension or restriction—
a
to the Health and Safety Executive; and
b
in the case of a licence or extension under section 7 above, to any public gas transporter whose authorised area previously included the whole or any part of the area specified in the licence or extension.
10
Any sums received by the Director under or by virtue of this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.