s 17B Right of the Secretary of State to intervene
(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the condition in subsection (2) is satisfied as regards proceedings brought in any part of the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State is entitled, on giving notice to the court, to be joined as a party to those proceedings. (2) The condition is that— (a) a breach of a duty imposed on a person by section 7, 7B, 8, 9 or 10 is alleged in the proceedings, (b) the effect of any of sections 7 to 21 and Schedule 1A is in issue in the proceedings, or (c) a matter relating to a relevant international agreement is in issue in the proceedings. (3) The Secretary of State may give notice under subsection (1) at any time during the proceedings.