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PART 2E+WGeneral powers and provisions

[F1Public and private hearings and location]E+W

15.—(1) An oral hearing must be held via video link, telephone conference or other electronic means if the duty member or panel chair so directs.

(2) In any other circumstance, the oral hearing must be held at such a place as the duty member or panel chair, with the agreement of the Secretary of State, directs.

[F2(3) An oral hearing (including a F3... case management conference) must be held in private unless the Board chair considers, on their own initiative or on an application to the Board, that it is in the interests of justice for the oral hearing to be held in public.

(3A) Any application for an oral hearing to be held in public under paragraph (3) may not be made later than 12 weeks before the date allocated for the oral hearing.

(3B) If an oral hearing is held in public, the panel chair or duty member may give a direction that part of the oral hearing is to be held in private.]

F4(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) At the oral hearing, the parties may not challenge the attendance of any witness who has been called under these Rules, or observer whose attendance has been approved under rule 14 F5....