s 24 Power of Secretary of State to require certain applications to be determined by him.
(1) The Secretary of State may— (a) give general directions to the chief inspector requiring him to refer applications under this Act for registrations , authorisations, transfers or variations of any description specified in the directions to the Secretary of State for his determination, and (b) give directions to the chief inspector in respect of any particular application requiring him to refer the application to the Secretary of State for his determination. (2) Where an application is referred to the Secretary of State in pursuance of directions given under this section, the Secretary of State may cause a local inquiry to be held in relation to the application. (3) The following provisions shall apply to inquiries in pursuance of subsection (2)— (a) in England and Wales, subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (supplementary provisions about local inquiries under that section) but with the omission, in subsection (4) of that section, of the words “such local authority or”, (b) in Scotland, subsections (2) to (8) of section 210 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (power to direct inquiries), and (c) in Northern Ireland, Schedule 8 to the Health and Personal Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (provisions as to inquiries). (4) After determining any application so referred, the Secretary of State may give the chief inspector directions under section 23 as to the steps to be taken by him in respect of the application. (5) In the application of this section to Northern Ireland, references to the Secretary of State shall have effect as references to the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.