Representatives of government departments at inquiry15

1

Where the National Assembly, any Minister of the Crown or any government department has expressed in writing to the local planning authority a view on an appeal, and the authority refer to that view in a statement prepared pursuant to rule 8(1), the appellant may apply in writing, so as to be received not later than 4 weeks before the date of the inquiry, to the National Assembly for a representative of the National Assembly, Minister or department concerned to be made available at the inquiry.

2

Where an application is made in accordance with paragraph (1), the National Assembly must make a representative available to attend the inquiry or, as the case may be, send the application to the Minister or department concerned, who must make a representative available to attend the inquiry.

3

A person attending an inquiry as a representative pursuant to this rule must state the reasons for the expressed view and give evidence and will be subject to cross-examination to the same extent as any other witness.

4

Nothing in paragraph (3) requires a representative of the National Assembly to answer any question which, in the opinion of the inspector, is directed to the merits of National Assembly policy or requires a representative of a Minister or government department to answer any question which, in the opinion of the inspector, is directed to the merits of government policy.