Biometric registration

13Penalty: code of practice

(1)

The Secretary of State shall issue a code of practice setting out the matters to be considered in determining—

(a)

whether to give a penalty notice under section 9(1), and

(b)

the amount of a penalty.

(2)

The code may, in particular, require the Secretary of State to consider any decision taken by virtue of section 7.

(3)

A court or the sheriff shall, when considering an appeal under section 11, have regard to the code.

(4)

The Secretary of State may revise and re-issue the code.

(5)

Before issuing or re-issuing the code the Secretary of State must—

(a)

publish proposals,

(b)

consult members of the public, and

(c)

lay a draft before Parliament.

(6)

The code (or re-issued code) shall come into force at the prescribed time.