Pre-hearing meeting
This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum
6.—(1) The Secretary of State may hold a pre-hearing meeting and shall give the parties, and such other persons as the Secretary of State may invite, not less than 14 days’ notice of the date, time and place fixed for the holding of the pre-hearing meeting.
(2) At the pre-hearing meeting the Secretary of State shall—
(a)identify what are, in the Secretary of State’s opinion—
(i)the main issues to be considered at the hearing; and
(ii)any matters on which the Secretary of State requires further explanation from the parties;
(b)specify—
(i)the timetable for the submission and exchange of representations; and
(ii)any other deadlines the Secretary of State thinks necessary; and
(c)make such other procedural decisions as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
(3) When deciding the application the Secretary of State may disregard any written representation, received after the date, or the expiry of the period, specified for their receipt.
(4) The Secretary of State must notify the parties and any other persons invited under paragraph (1) of the timetable.
(5) The Secretary of State may vary the timetable and as soon as is practicable must notify the parties and any other persons invited under paragraph (1) of the variation.
(6) In this paragraph, “procedural decision” means a decision about how the closed evidence is to be examined.