53Power of adjudicating authorities to refer matters to experts
(1)An authority to which this section applies may refer any question of special difficulty arising for decision by the authority to one or more experts for examination and report.
(2)The authorities to which this section applies are—
(a)an adjudication officer;
(b)an adjudicating medical practitioner, or two or more such practitioners acting together;
(c)a specially qualified adjudicating medical practitioner appointed by virtue of section 62 below, or two or more such practitioners acting together;
(d)a social security appeal tribunal;
(e)a disability appeal tribunal;
(f)a medical appeal tribunal;
(g)a Commissioner;
(h)the Secretary of State.
(3)Regulations may prescribe cases in which a Commissioner shall not exercise the power conferred by subsection (1) above.
(4)In this section “expert” means a person appearing to the authority to have knowledge or experience which would be relevant in determining the question of special difficulty.