Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

129 General provisions as to inquiries. E+W+S

(1) Where under any of the provisions of this Act an inquiry is held by the Secretary of State—

(a) notice of the inquiry may be given and published in accordance with such general or special directions as the Secretary of State may give;

(b) the Secretary of State and, if authorised by him, the person appointed to hold the inquiry may by order require any person, subject to the payment or tender of the reasonable expenses of his attendance, to attend as a witness and give evidence or produce any documents in his possession or power which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry and are such as would be subject to production in a court of law;

(c) the person holding the inquiry shall have power to take evidence on oath and for that purpose to administer oaths; and

(d) the Secretary of State may make such order as to the payment of the costs incurred by him in connection with the inquiry F1 . . . by such party to the inquiry as he thinks fit, and may certify the amount of the costs so incurred.

(2) Any amount certified as mentioned in subsection (1)(d) above and directed by the Secretary of State to be paid by any person shall be recoverable from that person—

(a) in England or Wales, either as a civil debt due to the Crown or by the Secretary of State summarily as a civil debt, or

(b) in Scotland, by the Secretary of State.

(3) If a person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any of the provisions of an order under subsection (1)(b) above, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) Where [F2 a] local authority are authorised or required by or under any provision of this Act to hold an inquiry for the purposes of any of their functions, any person appointed by that . . . F3 authority to hold the inquiry shall have the like powers as a person appointed to hold an inquiry to which section 250 of the M1 Local Government Act 1972 applies.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed (E.W.) by Housing and Planning Act 1986 (c. 63, SIF 81:1, 123:1), s. 49(2), Sch. 12 Pt. III and (S.) (1.6.1996) by Housing and Planning Act 1986 (c. 63, SIF 123:2),s. 53(2), Sch. 12 Pt. IV; S.I. 1996/1276, art. 2(b), Sch.

F2 Word substituted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 2, 8(1), Sch. 5 para. 4(36)

F3 Words repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 2, 8(1), 102(2)(3), Sch. 5 para. 4(36), Sch. 17

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 129(1) applied by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 2, 8(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(4)

C2 S. 129(2)(3) applied by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 2, 8(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(4)

Marginal Citations

M1 1972 c. 70.(81:1).