(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the establishment and operation of a reconciliation mechanism.
(2)In this section and section 12, “reconciliation mechanism” means arrangements for securing that, after adjustment under the arrangements, the amounts of benefits provided by scheme suppliers under a support scheme or schemes (or part of a support scheme) correspond, so far as reasonably practicable, to an equitable distribution between the scheme suppliers in question of the aggregate amount of benefits provided under the scheme or schemes (or that part of a scheme).
(3)Regulations under subsection (1) may—
(a)require scheme suppliers in relation to whom a reconciliation mechanism applies to make payments to the person operating the mechanism (“the operator”) or to another scheme supplier in relation to whom it applies;
(b)confer on scheme suppliers in relation to whom a reconciliation mechanism applies entitlements to receive payments from the operator or from another scheme supplier in relation to whom it applies;
(c)make provision—
(i)as to how the amount of any benefits provided under a support scheme is to be determined, and
(ii)as to what constitutes an equitable distribution (as mentioned in subsection (2)),
for the purposes of the mechanism.
(4)Regulations which provide for the amounts of any payments mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b) to be determined by the operator must, if the operator is not the Authority, include provision for appeals by scheme suppliers against any such determinations.
(5)Without prejudice to section 31(6), regulations under subsection (1) may confer functions on the Authority, and may, in particular, provide for the Authority to be the operator.
(6)Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision for requiring scheme suppliers in relation to whom a reconciliation mechanism applies to provide to the Authority or the operator such information as the Authority or, as the case may be, the operator may require for the purpose of carrying out its functions in relation to the mechanism.