49.—(1) Where—
(a)a maintenance assessment was in force on 2nd December 1996;
(b)no application has been made before that date by any of the persons with respect to whom that assessment was made; and
(c)an application is made by one of those persons on the grounds set out in section 28A(2)(a) of the Act (the effect of the current assessment) on or after that date and before 2nd December 1997,
any departure direction given in response to that application shall take effect on the first day of the first maintenance period commencing on or after 2nd December 1996.