14.—(1) Within the period of 30 days beginning on the date on which the Scottish Ministers receive an application under regulation 12, they may request from the crofting community body any further information that the Scottish Ministers consider to be necessary for the purpose of making a decision under regulation 15.
(2) No later than the expiry of the period of 7 days beginning on the date on which the crofting community body receives a request under paragraph (1), it must respond by—
(a)providing the requested information, or
(b)explaining why the information cannot be provided.