149Inquiry before exercise of power

149 Inquiry before exercise of power (1) The Director shall not exercise a power conferred by section 145 without first holding an inquiry under this section. (2) Where the Director proposes to hold an inquiry under this section, the Director shall give written notice of that fact to the holder of the licence, and must in the notice: (a) state the ground or grounds which the Director considers may authorise the exercise of a power conferred by section 145; and (b) afford the holder of the licence not less than 7 clear days after the date on which it is given in which to make to the Director written submissions with respect to the matter; and (c) specify a date after the expiry of the period allowed under paragraph (b) on which the Director will be prepared to hear oral submissions from the holder. (3) Where it appears to the Director that the exercise of a power conferred by section 145 may also affect a person or persons other than the holder of the licence in respect of which the power is exercised, the Director shall give to that person or each of those persons a like notice to that required by subsection (2), inviting the recipient of the notice to make written and oral submissions. (4) The Director may, by a notice under subsection (2), suspend the holder's licence from the date on which the notice is given until the giving of a notice under section 150(1) or (2).