18.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in the Principal Act, the Commission may direct a Committee to perform its functions in relation to a specified period (“a specified period”) that is longer than the relevant period and, if it does so—

(a) that Committee shall comply with the direction, and

(b) references in the Principal Act, in relation to that Committee, to the relevant period shall be construed as references to the specified period.

(2) If the Commission gives a direction to a Committee under subsection (1), the Commission shall, in performing its functions and notwithstanding anything contained in the Principal Act, take account of reports of that Committee in respect of the whole or any part of the specified period in relation to that Committee.