3.—(1) The Minister or such other person as he may appoint may approve any headquarters company for the purposes of section 43E of the Act for such period not exceeding 10 years as he may specify.
(2) The Minister or such other person as he may appoint may in any particular case extend the period specified under paragraph (1) for such further periods, not exceeding 10 years at any one time, as he thinks fit.