7.—(1) After obtaining a screening decision and before applying for consent the applicant may request the Secretary of State to give her opinion as to the information to be provided in the environmental statement (“a scoping opinion”).
(2) If a scoping opinion is requested the Secretary of State shall consult the applicant and such of the consultation bodies as she thinks fit before she gives her opinion.
(3) If the Secretary of State considers she has not been supplied with sufficient information to give a scoping opinion she shall notify the applicant of the matters upon which she requires additional information within twenty-eight days from the date of receipt by her of the request for the opinion.
(4) The Secretary of State shall provide the applicant with a scoping opinion within five weeks from the date of receipt by her of the request for the opinion or from the date of receipt by her of any additional information requested in accordance with paragraph (3) above.