(1)In Part I of the M1Ports Act 1991 (transfer of statutory port undertakings), after section 15 (duty to provide information for purposes of levy) insert—
(1)Where a notice of assessment has been served under section 14(2) above on a former relevant port authority (“the authority”), the authority may, within the period mentioned in section 14(3) above, by notice in writing request the appropriate Minister to reconsider the amount of the assessment.
The request shall set out the grounds on which the authority allege that the amount assessed is incorrect.
(2)If it appears to the Minister that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the amount of the assessment may be excessive, he may direct that section 14(3) and (4) above shall not apply to the whole amount of the assessment but only to such lesser amount as he may specify.
(3)If a request for reconsideration is duly made, the appropriate Minister shall reconsider the amount of the assessment and may confirm or reduce it.
An appeal lies to the High Court or, in Scotland, to the Court of Session as the Court of Exchequer in Scotland from any decision of the Minister under this subsection.
(4)The appropriate Minister may reconsider the amount of an assessment under section 14(2) above in any other case, if he thinks fit, and may confirm or reduce it.
(5)When the amount of the assessment is finally determined—
(a)if the amount of the assessment is less than the amount paid by the authority, the appropriate Minister shall make such payment to the authority as is required to put the authority in the same position as if the reduced amount had been specified in the original assessment;
(b)if a further amount is payable by the authority, section 14(3) and (4) above shall apply in relation to that amount as if the reference to the date of issue of the notice of assessment were a reference to the date of the determination.
(6)Except as provided by this section a notice of assessment under section 14(2) above shall not be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.”.
(2)Sections 115 to 120 of the M2Finance Act 1990 (levy on privatisation of certain ports) shall cease to have effect.
(3)An Order in Council under paragraph 1(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the M3Northern Ireland Act 1974 (legislation for Northern Ireland in the interim period) which states that it is made only for purposes corresponding to those of subsection (1) above—
(a)shall not be subject to paragraph 1(4) and (5) of that Schedule (affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament), but
(b)shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.