Commentary on Sections Part 15 – Supplementary Section 297 – Panels constituted to decide applications: general provision
This section requires a panel constituted to grant an authorisation under the Act (under Schedules 1, 3 or 6) to have 3 members, all of whom must be present during any panel proceedings. Further membership requirements may be provided by regulations, including requirements around how the panel should operate. The section also allows for regulations to amend the time limit in which panels must make decisions on authorisations (currently 7 working days on receipt of application); and also the length of interim authorisations granted. (currently 28 days).