18.—(1) The Secretary of State may at any time in any particular case allow further time for the taking of any step which is required or enabled to be taken pursuant to these Rules, and references in these Rules to a day by which, or a period within which, any step is required or enabled to be taken shall be construed accordingly.
(2) The Secretary of State may at any time before the close of a hearing request from any person entitled to appear additional copies of the following—
(a)a hearing statement or comments sent in accordance with rule 5; or
(b)any other document or information sent to the Secretary of State before or during a hearing,
and may specify the time within which such copies should be sent to him and any person so requested shall ensure that the copies are sent within the specified period.