Section 47: Provisions as to regulations., Gas Act 1986

Regulations made under any provision of this Part may provide for the determination of questions of fact or of law which may arise in giving effect to the regulations and for regulating (otherwise than in relation to any court proceedings) any matters relating to the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with the determination of such questions, including provision—

as to the mode of proof of any matter;

as to parties and their representation;

for the right to appear before and be heard by the Secretary of State, the Director and other authorities; and

as to awarding costs or expenses of proceedings for the determination of such questions, determining the amount thereof and the enforcement of awards thereof.

Regulations made under any provision of this Part which prescribe a period within which things are to be done may provide for extending the period so prescribed.

Regulations made under any provision of this Part may—

provide for anything falling to be determined under the regulations to be determined—

by the Director or by such other person as may be prescribed by the regulations; and

in accordance with such procedure and by reference to such matters and to the opinion of such persons as may be so prescribed;

make different provision for different areas or in relation to different cases or different circumstances; and

provide for such exceptions, limitations and conditions, and make such supplementary, incidental or transitional provision, as the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Director considers necessary or expedient.

Regulations made under any provision of this Part may provide that any person contravening the regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Proceedings for an offence under any regulations made under any provision of this Part shall not in England and Wales be instituted except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State , the Director or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In any proceedings against any person for an offence under any regulations made under any provision of this Part, it shall be a defence for that person to show—

that he was prevented from complying with the regulations by circumstances not within his control; or

that circumstances existed by reason of which compliance with the regulations would or might have involved danger to the public and that he took all such steps as it was reasonable for him to take both to prevent the circumstances from occurring and to prevent them from having that effect.

Any power to make regulations conferred by this Part on the Secretary of State or the Authority shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

Any statutory instrument containing regulations under this Part made by the Secretary of State shall, except as otherwise provided by this Act, be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Section 47: Provisions as to regulations.

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