Local inquiries

22.  The Secretary of State or the Minister may cause to be held such inquiries as he may consider necessary in regard to the exercise of any powers or duties conferred or imposed upon him and the giving of any consent or approval under this Order and subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972(1) shall apply to any such inquiry as if it were an inquiry held in pursuance of subsection (1) of that section and the Commissioners were a local authority.