4.—(1) Where civil proceedings are brought against the Crown in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Proceedings Act the Crown may, within three days from the service of the civil bill, serve a notice upon the plaintiff or his solicitor, requiring such information as may be reasonably necessary to show the circumstances in which the alleged liability of the Crown has arisen, and as to any department and officer of the Crown concerned.
(2) The plaintiff or his solicitor shall, within three days from the service of such notice, serve upon the Crown an answer to the notice containing the required particulars, and the plaintiff shall be bound by the statements contained therein unless at the hearing the judge otherwise directs.
(3) If the plaintiff fails to comply with the requirements of such notice as aforesaid, the judge shall, subject to paragraph (4), adjourn the hearing and direct the plaintiff to furnish the required particulars within such time as shall be specified by the judge. The costs of such adjournment shall be in the discretion of the judge.
(4) If it appears to the judge, on the application of the plaintiff, that the furnishing by the plaintiff of the particulars required by the Crown is not reasonably practicable or is likely to prejudice the plaintiffs case, the judge shall not direct such particulars to be furnished; and in any such case an answer by the plaintiff which omits such particulars shall be deemed to be a sufficient compliance with the notice; and if such an answer has already been served the judge may proceed to hear and determine the civil bill without an adjournment.