The Compulsory Purchase by Non-Ministerial Acquiring Authorities (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1990

Service of statements of case, etc.

7.—(1) The acquiring authority shall, at least 28 days before the date fixed for the inquiry and not later than—

(a) 6 weeks after the relevant date; or

(b) where a pre-inquiry meeting is held pursuant to rule 6, 4 weeks after the conclusion of that meeting— serve a statement of case on the Secretary of State and on each statutory objector.

(2) The acquiring authority shall, unless it has done so in an outline statement served pursuant to rule 6(6), include in its statement of case the text of any official case or official representation, and shall supply a copy of the statement to the relevant official body concerned within the relevant period for service of a statement of case under paragraph (1).

(3) The Secretary of State may by notice in writing require—

(a) any statutory objector; or

(b) any other person who has notified him of an intention or a wish to appear at the inquiry— within 4 weeks of the date of such notice to serve a statement of case on him, on the acquiring authority and on any other person specified in such notice.

(4) The Secretary of State shall supply a copy of the acquiring authority’s statement of case to any person who is not a statutory objector but has been required to serve a statement of case under paragraph (3).

(5) The Secretary of State or an inspector may require any person who has served a statement of case in accordance with this rule to provide such further information about the matters contained in the statement as he may specify.

(6) Unless a statement of matters has already been served pursuant to rule 6(2), the Secretary of State may, within 12 weeks from the relevant date, serve such a statement on the acquiring authority, each statutory objector and on any person from whom he has required a statement of case.

(7) The acquiring authority shall afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where practicable, takes copies of any statement or document which, or a copy of which, has been served on or by it in accordance with any of the preceding paragraphs of this rule; and shall specify in the statement served in accordance with paragraph (1) the time and place at which the opportunity will be afforded.