The solicitor to the inquiry must make an initial assessment of the amounts to be paid in respect of any bill within twenty-one days of the referral by the chairperson.

Where the solicitor to the inquiry determines that the full amount applied for by the applicant in the bill should be paid, the initial assessment of the amount of the bill is also the final assessment.

If the applicant disagrees with the initial assessment of the amount to be paid in respect of any bill, or a part of it, he must notify the solicitor to the inquiry of this as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within twenty-one days of the date on which the initial assessment of the amount is sent to the applicant.

Where the applicant has not responded within twenty-one days of the date the initial assessment of the amount to be paid in respect of the bill being sent to the applicant, the solicitor to the inquiry must issue the final assessment.

An initial or final assessment made by the solicitor to the inquiry must be in writing and sent to the applicant and his recognised legal representative, if he has one.