In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “the Order” means the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 19916;

• “appeal tribunal” means an appeal tribunal constituted under Chapter I of Part II of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 19987;

• “authorised officer” means an officer authorised by the Lord Chancellor in accordance with paragraph 1A of Schedule 4 to the Order8;

• “the chairman” for the purposes of regulations 10, 11 and 12 means—

  1. i

     the person who was the chairman or sole member of the appeal tribunal which gave the decision against which leave to appeal is being sought; or

  2. ii

     any other person authorised to deal with applications for leave to appeal to a Commissioner against that decision under the Order;

• “Commissioner” means a Child Support Commissioner;

• “legally qualified” means being a solicitor or barrister;

• “month” means a calendar month;

• “office” means the office of the Child Support Commissioners;

• “party” means a party to the proceedings;

• “proceedings” means any proceedings before a Commissioner, whether by way of an application for leave to appeal to, or from, a Commissioner, by way of an appeal or otherwise; and

• “respondent” means any person, other than the applicant or appellant, who was a party to the proceedings before the appeal tribunal and any other person who, pursuant to a direction given under regulation 18 is served with notice of the appeal.