22. As soon as practicable after every respondent to whom the Director has delivered an answer has delivered his reply or after the time for his doing so has expired, or in Scotland as soon as practicable after the closing of the record, the Director shall make an application to the Court for directions, with a view to providing an occasion for the consideration of the preparations for the final hearing so that—
(a)all matters which can be dealt with on interlocutory application and have not already been dealt with (including, in Scotland, any preliminary question of relevance or sufficiency of specification arising on the pleadings) may, so far as possible, be dealt with; and
(b)such directions may be given as to the future course of the proceedings as appear best adapted to secure the just, expeditious and economical disposal thereof;
and the Court shall fix a date for the hearing of the application.