15(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public.E+W+S
(2)The public shall be excluded during any item of business where—
(a)it is likely, were members of the public to be present during that item, that information furnished in confidence to the Committee by [F1the Office of Rail and Road] or the [F2Secretary of State] would be disclosed in breach of the obligation of confidence;
(b)the Committee have resolved that, by reason of the confidential nature of the item or for other special reasons stated in the resolution, it is desirable in the public interest that the public be excluded; or
(c)it is likely, were members of the public to be present during that item, that there would be disclosed to them—
(i)any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, or
(ii)any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate,
where public disclosure of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the committee, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.
(3)The Committee shall give such notice—
(a)of any meeting of the Committee which is open to the public, and
(b)of the business to be taken at that meeting (other than items during which the public is to be excluded),
as they consider appropriate for the purpose of bringing the meeting to the attention of interested members of the public.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Sch. 18 para. 15(2)(a) substituted (16.10.2015) by The Office of Rail Regulation (Change of Name) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1682), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4(n)(vii)
F2Words in Sch. 18 para. 15 substituted (24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 60(2), Sch. 12 para. 14(9); S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.