Act 3 Industrial Property Act 2014 (a) at any time after, or, with the consent of the applicant, before the expiry of the period prescribed for the purposes of section 29, consider the application and any documents submitted in relation to the application; or (b) where the application contains information relating to the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected with the production or use, of atomic energy, authorise the National Council for Science and Technology to study the application and any documents sent to the registrar in connection with the application and report to the registrar as soon as reasonably practicable on the utility or otherwise of the patent applied for. (6) Where directions have been given under this section in respect of an application for a patent for an invention and the period prescribed in relation to the application expires, and while the directions are still in force, an application is brought for the grant of a patent— (a) if while the directions are in force, the invention is used by or with the written authorisation of or on the orders of a Government Ministry, department or agency, section 66 shall apply as if— (i) the use was made under that section; (ii) the application had been published at the end of that period; and (iii) a patent had been granted for the invention at the time the application is brought for the grant of a patent taking the terms of the patent to be those of the application as at the time it was brought; and (b) if it appears to the Minister responsible for defence or the concerned Minister that the applicant for the patent has suffered hardship by reason of the continuation in force of the directions, the Minister may, with the consent of the 18