(1)  If –

(a) an investigator states in his or her report of an investigation that there is evidence that a breach of this Act or the regulations has been committed or evidence that a default, within the meaning of Part 3.5 (Solicitors' Guarantee Fund), has occurred in relation to the law practice whose affairs are under investigation; and

(b) the prescribed authority is satisfied that the breach or default is wilful or of a substantial nature –

the prescribed authority may decide that the whole or part of the costs of carrying out the investigation is payable, by the law practice whose affairs have been subject to investigation, to the prescribed authority and may specify the amount payable.

(2)  The amount specified by the prescribed authority is a debt owing to the prescribed authority by the law practice whose affairs have been investigated.

Division 5 - External examinations