The Planning (Inquiry Procedure) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2006

Representatives of government departments and other authorities at inquiry

11.—(1) Where—

(a) the Secretary of State has given a direction; or

(b) a Minister of the Crown, a government department or a district council has expressed a view as described in rule 4(2)(a) and the inspector has included the terms of the expression of view in a statement sent in accordance with rule 5(2); or

(c) another Minister of the Crown or a government department has expressed a view described in rule 4(2)(a) and the Department has included the terms of the expression of view in a statement sent in accordance with rule 6(1),

the applicant or a person entitled to appear may, not later than 4 weeks before the date of an inquiry, apply to the Department for a representative of the Secretary of State or of the other Minister or government department concerned to be made available at the inquiry.

(2) Where an application is made in accordance with paragraph (1), the Department shall send the application to the Secretary of State, other Minister or government department concerned, who shall make a representative available to attend the inquiry.

(3) A person attending an inquiry as a representative in pursuance of this rule shall state the reasons for the direction or expressed view and shall give evidence and be subject to cross-examination to the same extent as any other witness.

(4) Nothing in paragraph (3) shall require a representative of the Secretary of State, Minister or a government department to answer any question which in the opinion of the inspector is directed to the merits of government policy.