70Fees
(1)Ministers may charge such fee as may be prescribed—
(a)in respect of applications to join, or to be removed from, the Scheme,
(b)in respect of disclosure requests, and
(c)otherwise in respect of the performance of their functions under this Part.
(2)Regulations may, in particular, provide for—
(a)different fees in different circumstances,
(b)annual or other recurring fees in respect of participation in the Scheme,
(c)reduction, waiver or refund of fees in prescribed circumstances.
(3)Before prescribing fees under this section, Ministers must have regard to—
(a)the circumstances in which those fees are payable, and
(b)the desirability of maintaining an appropriate balance among—
(i)the quality of the performance of their vetting, barring and disclosure functions,
(ii)the cost of that performance, and
(iii)the fees paid to them in respect of that performance.
(4)Where regulations provide for a fee to be charged in respect of—
(a)an application to join, or to be removed from, the Scheme, or
(b)a disclosure request,
Ministers need not consider the application or request unless the fee is paid.