16(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, before determining an appeal under this Part of this Schedule the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local authority so request, afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.E+W+S
(2)If the Secretary of State thinks fit in any case where such a request is made, he may, instead of complying with that request, appoint a person to hold an inquiry in connection with the appeal, and subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the M1Local Government Act 1972 shall apply to any such inquiry as they apply to such an inquiry as is referred to in subsection (1) of that section, with the substitution for any reference to a department of a reference to the Secretary of State.
Marginal Citations
M11972 c. 70(81:1).