12Time limit for deciding applications

12 Time limit for deciding applications (1) The ESC must decide an application made under section 9 within— (a) the period of 20 business days beginning on the day the ESC received the application; or (b) if before the end of that period the ESC and the applicant agree to a longer period, that longer period. (2) If during the period applicable under subsection (1), the ESC requests information from an applicant for the purpose of deciding the application, the period between the request and the giving of the information must be disregarded for the purpose of calculating the period applicable under subsection (1). (3) If the ESC has not decided the application within the period applicable under this section, the ESC is to be taken to have made a decision at the end of that period under section 11 refusing the application. S. 13 (Heading) amended by No. 34/2022 s. 11(1). S. 13 amended by No. 34/2022 s. 11(2)(a).