The Secretary of State may if he thinks fit uphold the determination of the Authority in whole or in part or reverse or vary the whole or any part of its determination.

The Secretary of State shall notify the Authority and the licence holder of his decision and of the reasons for it and the Authority shall publish the Secretary of State’s notification.

The failure of any person (other than the licence holder in serving notice of appeal on the Secretary of State within the time prescribed in regulation 31E(3)(b)) to serve any notice, representation, submission or reply, or copies thereof or to furnish any particulars in the time or manner provided for in the Act or in these Regulations or any other procedural irregularity shall not invalidate the decision of the Secretary of State; and the Secretary of State may, and shall if he considers that any person may have been prejudiced, take such steps as he thinks fit before deciding the appeal to cure the irregularity.