Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires—
“the 2004 Act” means the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004(1);
“the 2010 Act” means the Equality Act 2010;
“case statement period” means the period referred to in rule 8(2);
“claim” means a claim under paragraph 8 of Schedule 17 to the 2010 Act and “claimant” shall be construed accordingly;
“convener” means the President or individual selected by the President from the panel (“the panel of conveners”) appointed by the Scottish Ministers under paragraph 3(1)(a) of schedule 1 to the 2004 Act to act as the convener of a Tribunal;
“electronic communication” has the meaning given to it by section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(2) and “electronic signature” has the same meaning as in section 7 of that Act;
“hearing” means the proceedings of a Tribunal for the purpose of enabling the Tribunal to take a decision on a claim or on any question or matter at which the parties are entitled to attend and be heard;
“members” means the individuals selected by the President from the panel (“the panel of members”) appointed by the Scottish Ministers under paragraph 3(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the 2004 Act to act as a member of a Tribunal;
“overriding objective” means the objective referred to in rule 3;
“party” means either the claimant or responsible body in respect of any claim made to a Tribunal;
“Register” means the Register of Claims to the Tribunals kept in pursuance of rule 45;
“response” means a written response submitted by a responsible body under rule 10;
“responsible body” has the same meaning as in section 85(9) of the 2010 Act;
“Secretary” means the member of the Tribunal staff for the time being appointed to act as secretary to the Tribunals;
“working day” means any day which is not—
a Saturday;
a Sunday;
a day from 27th December to 31st December inclusive;
a day in July; or
a day specified as a bank holiday in Scotland in or by virtue of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(3); and
“written evidence” includes evidence recorded in any way.
(2) In these Rules—
(a)a reference to a rule is a reference to a rule in these Rules, and in any rule a reference to a paragraph or sub‑paragraph is, unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to a paragraph or sub‑paragraph in the rule;
(b)where the time prescribed by these Rules for doing any act expires on a day which is not a working day, that act is done in time if it is done on the next working day; and
(c)references to the doing of anything in writing include references to the doing of that thing by means of a document—
(i)transmitted by electronic means;
(ii)received in legible form; and
(iii)capable of being used for subsequent reference.
2004 asp 4 as amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 7) and the Equality Act 2010 c.15, Schedule 17, paragraph 12 and Schedule 27.