These Regulations may be cited as the Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and shall come into operation on 4th November 1996.

In these Regulations—

• “the Order” means the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;

• “complainant” means a person qualifying for advice and assistance about the discharge of an authority’s functions under Part IV of the Order in relation to him, or a person specified in Article 45(3)(a) to (e) of the Order making any representations;

• “independent person” means in relation to representations made to, or treated as being made to, an authority, a person who is neither a member nor a director nor an officer of that authority, nor the spouse of any such person;

• “panel” means a panel of 3 persons;

• “representations” means representations referred to in Article 37(1) or 45(3) of the Order.

Any notice required under these Regulations is to be given in writing and may be sent by ordinary post.