The Ministers may constitute a Joint Planning Inquiry Commission to inquire into and report on any matter referred to them under this section; and the matters which may be so referred are those which may, under section 45 of this Act or F1section 101 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, be referred to a Planning Inquiry Commission but which appear to the Ministers to involve considerations affecting both Scotland and England.

a Joint Planning Inquiry Commission shall consist of a chairman and not less than two nor more than four other members appointed by the Ministers.

The Ministers may pay to the members of any such commission such remuneration and allowances as they may with the consent of F2the Treasury determine, and may provide for each such commission such officers or servants, and such accommodation, as appears to them expedient to provide for the purpose of assisting the commission in the discharge of their functions.

The validity of any proceedings of any such commission shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members of the commission or by any defect in the appointment of any member.

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In this section “the Ministers” means the Secretaries of State for the time being having general responsibility in planning matters in relation to Scotland and in relation to England acting jointly; but their functions under subsection (3) of this section may, by arrangements made between them, be exercised by either acting on behalf of both.

Schedule 9 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Joint Planning Inquiry Commissions and references to them under this section, and with respect to the proceedings of a commission on any such reference.