44.—(1) Regardless of whether claim windows are specified under regulation 43(3) or published under regulation 43(4)—
(a)the first claim window must start not more than 20 business days after the scheme introduction date;
(b)each claim window must have a duration of not less than 8 business days;
(c)the last claim window must start not less than 24 months after the second scheme period ends (but this is without prejudice to the determination by the Secretary of State of the reconciliation run-off date in respect of any supplier, and subject to paragraph (3));
(d)after the first claim window, at least one claim window must start in each month of a scheme period;
(e)after the second scheme period ends, each claim window must start not later than 6 months after the start of the previous claim window.
(2) The dates of claim windows determined under regulation 43(4) must be published at least 15 days in advance of each such claim window.
(3) Where claim windows are published under regulation 43(4), after the Secretary of State has determined and published the last reconciliation run-off date in respect of any supplier, the Secretary of State need not determine and publish any claim window that starts after that date.