National security25
1
Rules of court may make provision for enabling a county court or sheriff court in which a claim is brought under regulation 20, where the court considers it expedient in the interests of national security—
a
to exclude from all or part of the proceedings—
i
the claimant,
ii
the claimant’s representatives, or
iii
any assessors,
b
to permit a claimant or representative who has been excluded to make a statement to the court before the commencement of the proceedings, or the part of the proceedings, from which he is excluded;
c
to take steps to keep secret all or part of the reasons for the court’s decision in the proceedings.
2
The Attorney General or, in Scotland, the Advocate General for Scotland, may appoint a person to represent the interests of a claimant in, or in any part of, proceedings from which the claimant or his representatives are excluded by virtue of paragraph (1).
3
A person may be appointed under paragraph (2) only—
a
in relation to proceedings in England and Wales, if he has a general qualification (within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 199014), or
b
in relation to proceedings in Scotland, if he is—
i
an advocate, or
ii
qualified to practise as a solicitor in Scotland.
4
A person appointed under paragraph (2) shall not be responsible to the person whose interests he is appointed to represent.