3.—(1) The Commission must charge the applicant a pre-examination fee.
(2) Following a decision under regulation 22, the Commission must notify the applicant as soon as reasonably practicable, of the pre-examination fee.
(3) The pre-examination fee is—
(a)where a single Commissioner will handle the application, £8,500;
(b)where two or three Commissioners will handle the application, £25,500;
(c)where more than three Commissioners will handle the application, £38,500.
(4) The pre-examination fee must be received by the Commission within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the notice referred to in sub-paragraph (2).
(5) If the applicant fails to pay the pre-examination fee within the period specified in sub-paragraph (4), the Commission need take no further steps in relation to the application until payment has been received by the Commission.