Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949

Section 7.

FIRST SCHEDULE Procedure in Relation to Suspension and Revocation of Authorities to Wireless Personnel

1 The Postmaster General shall, on suspending the authority, serve on the person to whom it was issued a notice informing him of the suspension, of the grounds thereof and of his rights under the subsequent provisions of this Schedule, and further informing him that if he does not avail himself of those rights the Postmaster General may revoke the authority:

Provided that where it appears to the Postmaster General that it is not reasonably practicable to serve the notice on the said person, the Postmaster General, in lieu of serving the notice on him, shall take such steps, by advertisement or otherwise, to bring the notice to his knowledge as appear to the Postmaster General to be reasonable in the circumstances.

2 (1) If, within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the notice, the person to whom the authority was issued requests that the question whether the authority should be revoked or the suspension thereof continued or terminated should be referred to an advisory committee, the Postmaster General, unless he terminates the suspension, shall refer that question to an advisory committee accordingly.

(2) Every such advisory committee shall consist of three persons appointed by the Postmaster General, of whom one shall be an independent chairman selected by the Postmaster General and two shall be persons nominated respectively by such body or bodies representing employers of wireless operators and such association or associations representing wireless operators as seem to the Postmaster General to be appropriate for the purpose.

(3) Where a question is referred to an advisory committee under this paragraph, the committee shall inquire into the matter, shall consider any representations made by the person to whom the authority was issued, and shall then make a report, to the Postmaster General stating the facts as found by them and the action which, in their opinion, ought to be taken as respects the revocation of the authority or the continuation or termination of the suspension thereof, and the Postmaster General shall consider the report.

(4) After considering the report of the advisory committee or, as the case may be, on the expiration of the time referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph without the person to whom the authority was issued having required in the manner therein referred to that the question should be referred to an advisory committee, the Postmaster General shall, as he thinks fit, either revoke the authority, or terminate the suspension thereof, or continue the suspension thereof for such period as he thinks fit.

(5) Where the Postmaster General revokes the authority or continues the suspension thereof, he shall, if requested so to do by the person to whom the authority was issued, inform him of the opinion which the advisory committee expressed as to the action which ought to be taken as respects the revocation of the authority or the continuation or termination of the suspension thereof.

3 Any expenses incurred by an advisory committee under this Schedule, to such extent as may be determined by the Postmaster General with the consent of the Treasury including such sums in respect of the expenses of the members of the committee as may be so determined, shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament.