12Right to make representations
(1)Where the Secretary of State proposes—
(a)to refuse a licence or certificate under this Act; or
(b)to vary or revoke such a licence or certificate otherwise than at the request of the holder,
he shall serve on the applicant or the holder a notice of his intention to do so.
(2)The notice shall state the reasons for which the Secretary of State proposes to act and give particulars of the rights conferred by subsection (3) below.
(3)A person on whom a notice is served under subsection (1) above may make written representations and, if desired, oral representations to a person appointed for that purpose by the Secretary of State if before such date as is specified in the notice (not being less than twenty-eight days after the date of service) he notifies the Secretary of State of his wish to do so.
(4)The holder of a licence or certificate who is dissatisfied with any condition contained in it may, if he notifies the Secretary of State of his wish to do so, make written representations and, if desired, oral representations to a person appointed for that purpose by the Secretary of State; but the making of such representations shall not affect the operation of any condition unless and until it is varied under section 11 above.
(5)The person appointed to receive any representations under this section shall be a person who holds or has held judicial office in the United Kingdom or a barrister, solicitor or advocate of at least seven years' standing and the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, appoint a person with scientific or other appropriate qualifications to assist the person receiving the representations in his consideration of them.
(6)The person appointed to receive any such representations shall after considering them make a report to the Secretary of State; and the Secretary of State shall furnish a copy of the report to the person who made the representations and take it into account in deciding whether to refuse the application or to vary or revoke the licence or certificate, as the case may be.
(7)The Secretary of State may by order make rules with respect to the procedure to be followed in the making and consideration of representations under this section, including provision requiring any such representations to be made within a specified time.
(8)A notice under subsection (1) above may be served either personally or by post.