The Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995

Procedure in connection with determinations; and right to representation

2.—(1) Subject to the provisions of the Administration Act and of these Regulations—

(a) the procedure in connection with the consideration and determination of any claim or question to which these Regulations relate shall be such as the Department, the adjudicating authority or the person holding the inquiry, as the case may be, shall determine; so however that in the case of a tribunal or board, the procedure shall be such as the chairman shall determine; and

(b) any person who by virtue of these Regulations has the right to be heard at a hearing or inquiry may be accompanied and may be represented by another person whether having professional qualifications or not and, for the purposes of the proceedings at any such hearing or inquiry, any such representative shall have all the rights and powers to which the person whom he represents is entitled under the Administration Act and these Regulations.

(2) For the purpose of arriving at its decision an appeal tribunal, a medical board, a medical appeal tribunal or a disability appeal tribunal, as the case may be, shall, and for the purpose of discussing any question of procedure may, notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations, order all persons not being members of the tribunal or board, other than the person acting as clerk to the tribunal or board, to withdraw from the sitting of the tribunal or board, except that—

(a) the President and any full-time chairman; and

(b) with the leave of the chairman of the tribunal or board, and if no person having the right to be heard objects, any person mentioned in regulation 4(6)(b) and (d) (oral hearings and inquiries), except a person undergoing training as an adjudication officer or as an adjudicating medical practitioner,

may remain present at any such sitting.