52Preliminary response to claimant

52 Preliminary response to claimant (1) A respondent must, in writing and within the required period— (a) give notice to the claimant under section 54 (Respondent’s response to notice of claim); or (b) if the respondent cannot decide on the information in the notice whether or not the respondent is properly a respondent to the claim—tell the claimant, in writing, about the further information the respondent reasonably needs to decide whether the respondent is properly a respondent to the claim; or (c) if the respondent considers that the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim, tell the claimant, in writing, that the respondent considers the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim and give the claimant, in writing— (i) reasons why the respondent considers the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim; and (ii) any information the respondent has that may help the claimant identify someone who should be a respondent to the claim. (2) If the claimant is told that further information is needed under subsection (1) (b), the claimant must, within the required period— (a) give the respondent the further information; or (b) tell the respondent, in writing, that the claimant considers the respondent to be properly a respondent to the claim and requires the respondent to give notice to the claimant under section 54. (3) Within the required period after being given information under subsection (2) (a), the respondent must, having regard to that information— (a) give notice to the claimant under section 54; or (b) if the respondent considers that the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim, tell the claimant, in writing, that the respondent considers the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim and give the claimant, in writing— (i) reasons why the respondent considers the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim; and (ii) any information the respondent has that may help the claimant identify someone who should be a respondent to the claim. (4) If the claimant is told under subsection (1) (c) or subsection (3) (b) that the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim, the claimant must, within the required period, tell the respondent, in writing, that— (a) the claimant accepts that the respondent is not properly a respondent to the claim; or (b) the claimant considers the respondent to be properly a respondent to the claim and requires the respondent to give notice to the claimant under section 54. (5) Advice given to the respondent under subsection (4) (a) does not prevent the claimant from giving the respondent another notice of claim under section 51 at a later time. required period means— (a) the period prescribed by regulation; or (b) if no period is prescribed, the following: (i) for subsection (1)—1 month after the day the respondent receives a notice of claim under section 51; (ii) for subsection (2)—1 month after the day the claimant is told under subsection (1) (b) that further information is needed; (iii) for subsection (3)—1 month after the day the respondent is given the information; (iv) for subsection (4)—1 month after the day the claimant is told under subsection (1) (c) or (3) (b) that the respondent is not properly a respondent to claim.