4F.—(1) The Commissioners may request the Minister to issue an opinion to them on—

(a) the scope, and

(b) the level of detail,

of the information to be included in an environmental impact assessment report being prepared by the Commissioners under section 4E.

(2) The Commissioners shall, when submitting a request under subsection (1), provide information to the Minister on—

(a) the specific characteristics of the proposed arterial drainage works concerned, including their location and technical capacity, and

(b) the likely impact of those works on the environment.

(3) The Minister shall, where requested under subsection (1), provide the opinion referred to in that subsection.

(4) In issuing an opinion in response to a request under subsection (1), the Minister shall take into account the information provided under subsection (2).

(5) The Minister shall consult with the consultation bodies in relation to the scope and level of detail to be included in the environmental impact assessment report referred to in subsection (1) before issuing an opinion in response to a request under that subsection.

(6) The issuing of an opinion under this section shall not prejudice the exercise by the Minister of his or her powers pursuant to section 7B(4) to require the Commissioners to provide supplementary information in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the proposed arterial drainage works concerned.]