In section 321 of the principal Act (planning inquiries to be held in public subject to certain exceptions) after subsection (4) there are inserted the following subsections—

“(5)

If the Secretary of State is considering giving a direction under subsection (3) the Attorney General may appoint a person to represent the interests of any person who will be prevented from hearing or inspecting any evidence at a local inquiry if the direction is given.

(6)

If before the Secretary of State gives a direction under subsection (3) no person is appointed under subsection (5), the Attorney General may at any time appoint a person as mentioned in subsection (5) for the purposes of the inquiry.

(7)

The Lord Chancellor may by rules make provision—

(a)

as to the procedure to be followed by the Secretary of State before he gives a direction under subsection (3) in a case where a person has been appointed under subsection (5);

(b)

as to the functions of a person appointed under subsection (5) or (6).

(8)

Rules made under subsection (7) must be contained in a statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(9)

If a person is appointed under subsection (5) or (6) (the appointed representative) the Secretary of State may direct any person who he thinks is interested in the inquiry in relation to a matter mentioned in subsection (4) (the responsible person) to pay the fees and expenses of the appointed representative.

(10)

If the appointed representative and the responsible person are unable to agree the amount of the fees and expenses, the amount must be determined by the Secretary of State.

(11)

The Secretary of State must cause the amount agreed between the appointed representative and the responsible person or determined by him to be certified.

(12)

An amount so certified is recoverable from the responsible person as a civil debt.”

After section 321 of the principal Act (planning inquiries to be held in public subject to certain exceptions) there is inserted the following section—

“321AAppointed representative: no inquiry

(1)

This section applies if—

(a)

a person is appointed under subsection (5) or (6) of section 321, but

(b)

no inquiry is held as mentioned in subsection (1) of that section.

(2)

Subsections (9) to (12) of section 321 apply in respect of the fees and expenses of the person appointed as if the inquiry had been held.

(3)

For the purposes of subsection (2) the responsible person is the person to whom the Secretary of State thinks he would have given a direction under section 321(9) if an inquiry had been held.

(4)

This section does not affect section 322A.”

In Schedule 3 to the listed buildings Act (determination of certain appeals by person appointed by the Secretary of State) after paragraph 6 there is inserted the following paragraph—

“6A

(1)

If the Secretary of State is considering giving a direction under paragraph 6(6) the Attorney General may appoint a person to represent the interests of any person who will be prevented from hearing or inspecting any evidence at a local inquiry if the direction is given.

(2)

If before the Secretary of State gives a direction under paragraph 6(6) no person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1), the Attorney General may at any time appoint a person as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) for the purposes of the inquiry.

(3)

The Lord Chancellor may by rules make provision—

(a)

as to the procedure to be followed by the Secretary of State before he gives a direction under paragraph 6(6) in a case where a person has been appointed under sub-paragraph (1);

(b)

as to the functions of a person appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2).

(4)

If a person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) (the appointed representative) the Secretary of State may direct any person who he thinks is interested in the inquiry in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph 6(7) (the responsible person) to pay the fees and expenses of the appointed representative.

(5)

If the appointed representative and the responsible person are unable to agree the amount of the fees and expenses, the amount must be determined by the Secretary of State.

(6)

The Secretary of State must cause the amount agreed between the appointed representative and the responsible person or determined by him to be certified.

(7)

An amount so certified is recoverable from the responsible person as a civil debt.

(8)

Rules made under sub-paragraph (3) must be contained in a statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(9)

Sub-paragraph (10) applies if—

(a)

a person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), but

(b)

no inquiry is held as mentioned in paragraph 6(1).

(10)

Sub-paragraphs (4) to (7) above apply in respect of the fees and expenses of the person appointed as if the inquiry had been held.

(11)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (10) the responsible person is the person to whom the Secretary of State thinks he would have given a direction under sub-paragraph (4) if an inquiry had been held.

(12)

Sub-paragraphs (9) to (11) do not affect paragraph 6(8).”

In the Schedule to the hazardous substances Act (determination of certain appeals by person appointed by the Secretary of State) after paragraph 6 there is inserted the following paragraph—

“6A

(1)

If the Secretary of State is considering giving a direction under paragraph 6(6) the Attorney General may appoint a person to represent the interests of any person who will be prevented from hearing or inspecting any evidence at a local inquiry if the direction is given.

(2)

If before the Secretary of State gives a direction under paragraph 6(6) no person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1), the Attorney General may at any time appoint a person as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) for the purposes of the inquiry.

(3)

The Lord Chancellor may by rules make provision—

(a)

as to the procedure to be followed by the Secretary of State before he gives a direction under paragraph 6(6) in a case where a person has been appointed under sub-paragraph (1);

(b)

as to the functions of a person appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2).

(4)

If a person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) (the appointed representative) the Secretary of State may direct any person who he thinks is interested in the inquiry in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph 6(7) (the responsible person) to pay the fees and expenses of the appointed representative.

(5)

If the appointed representative and the responsible person are unable to agree the amount of the fees and expenses, the amount must be determined by the Secretary of State.

(6)

The Secretary of State must cause the amount agreed between the appointed representative and the responsible person or determined by him to be certified.

(7)

An amount so certified is recoverable from the responsible person as a civil debt.

(8)

Rules made under sub-paragraph (3) must be contained in a statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(9)

Sub-paragraph (10) applies if—

(a)

a person is appointed under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), but

(b)

no inquiry is held as mentioned in paragraph 6(1).

(10)

Sub-paragraphs (4) to (7) above apply in respect of the fees and expenses of the person appointed as if the inquiry had been held.

(11)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (10) the responsible person is the person to whom the Secretary of State thinks he would have given a direction under sub-paragraph (4) if an inquiry had been held.

(12)

Sub-paragraphs (9) to (11) do not affect paragraph 6(8).”