Dentists Act 1984

Rules relating to procedure U.K.

[F1 2. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, rules shall make provision as to the procedure to be followed—

(a) in proceedings before a Committee under Part 3A of this Act; and

(b) by the Investigating Committee in the exercise of their functions under section 36O.

(2) Rules under sub-paragraph (1)(a) shall include provision—

(a) requiring the registrar to serve notification on the person to whose registration the proceedings relate that proceedings are to be brought and outlining the case against him;

(b) enabling any party to be heard by a Committee, if the party so requires;

(c) enabling any party to be represented before the Committee by counsel or a solicitor, or (if the rules so provide and the party so elects) by a person of such other description as may be specified in the rules;

(d) enabling the registrar to serve notification of the proceedings on any person who in his opinion has an interest in those proceedings, and to provide any person so notified with an opportunity to submit written representations;

(e) enabling a Committee, before they hold any hearing, where they consider that it would assist them in performing their functions, to hold a preliminary meeting in private attended by the parties and the parties' representatives and any other person the Committee think appropriate;

(f) requiring proceedings before a Committee to be held in public unless and to the extent that the rules provide otherwise;

(g) requiring the registrar to serve notification on the person (if any) making the allegation and any other person who in his opinion has an interest in the proceedings, of the Committee’s decision and the reasons for the decision; and

(h) requiring the registrar to publish, in such manner as may be specified in the rules, such information relating to the case and any decision made by the Committee as may be specified in the rules.

(3) Each stage in proceedings before a Committee under Part 3A of this Act shall be dealt with expeditiously and a Committee may give directions as to the conduct of the case and the consequences of failure to comply with such directions (which may include the making of an order or refusal of an application if the failure to comply was without reasonable excuse).

(4) Rules may provide for the Chairman of a Committee to hold the meeting referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(e) or to give the directions mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) and, subject to the agreement of the parties to his acting on behalf of the Committee, to take such action as the Committee would be competent to take at such a meeting.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 4B inserted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(4)-(7) of the amending S.I. (see the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008)) by The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2011), Sch. 4 (with Sch. 7) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2006/1671)