(1) Where an application is referred to the Committee under section 183CB or a question is referred to the Committee under section 183CQ, the Chair of the Committee shall cause a notice in writing of the reference of the application or question to the Committee, and of the time and place at which the Committee intends to hold an inquiry into the application or question, to be served on the person making the application or holding the licence to which the question relates, as the case may be, at least ten days before the date of the inquiry.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Committee shall afford the person on whom a notice has been served in pursuance of subsection (1) an opportunity of examining witnesses, of giving evidence and calling witnesses on his or her behalf and of addressing the Committee.
(3) Where the person on whom notice has been served in pursuance of subsection (1) fails to attend at the time and place specified in the notice, the Committee may, unless it is satisfied that the person is prevented by illness or other unavoidable cause from so attending, proceed to hold the inquiry in his or her absence.
(4) Where an application is referred to the Committee under section 183CB or a question is referred to the Committee under section 183CQ, the Chair of the Committee may cause a notice in writing of the reference of the application or question to the Committee, and of the time and place at which the Committee intends to hold an inquiry into the application or question, to be served on such other persons who, in the opinion of the Chair, have a special interest in, or are specially affected by, the inquiry.