12A.—(1) Industrial tribunal procedure regulations may enable an industrial tribunal to sit in private for the purpose of hearing evidence from any person which in the opinion of the tribunal is likely to consist of—
(a)information which he could not disclose without contravening a prohibition imposed by or by virtue of any statutory provision,
(b)information which has been communicated to him in confidence or which he has otherwise obtained in consequence of the confidence reposed in him by another person, or
(c)information the disclosure of which would, for reasons other than its effect on negotiations with respect to any of the matters mentioned in Article 96(1) of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, cause substantial injury to any undertaking of his or in which he works.
(2) The reference in paragraph (1)(c) to any undertaking of a person or in which he works shall be construed, in relation to a person in Crown employment, as a reference to the national interest.]