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

Non-disclosure of medical evidence

8.—(1) Where, in connection with the consideration and determination of any claim or question, there is before an adjudicating authority medical advice or medical evidence relating to a person which has not been disclosed to him and in the opinion of the adjudicating authority or, in the case of a tribunal or board, its chairman, the disclosure to that person of that advice or evidence would be harmful to his health, such advice or evidence shall not be required to be disclosed to that person.

(2) Evidence such as is mentioned in paragraph (1) shall not be disclosed to any person acting for or representing the person to whom it relates or, in a case where a claim for benefit is made by reference to the disability of a person other than the claimant and the evidence relates to that other person not be disclosed to the claimant or any person acting for or representing, shall him, unless the adjudicating authority or, in the case of a tribunal or board, its chairman, is satisfied that it is in the interests of the person to whom the evidence relates to do so.

(3) An adjudicating authority shall not be precluded from taking into account for the purposes of the determination evidence which has not been disclosed to a person under the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) In this regulation “adjudicating authority” includes the Department in a case involving a question which is for determination by the Department.