The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999

Directions concerning oral hearings

39.—(1) Where an appeal or a referral is made to an appeal tribunal, the clerk to the appeal tribunal shall direct the appellant and any other party to the proceedings to notify the clerk to the appeal tribunal in writing whether he wishes to have an oral hearing of the appeal or whether he is content for the appeal or referral to proceed without an oral hearing.

(2) Except in the case of a referral, a direction under paragraph (1) shall include a statement informing the appellant that, if he does not respond in writing to the direction within the period specified in paragraph (3), the appeal may be struck out in accordance with regulation 46.

(3) A notification given in accordance with paragraph (1) must be received by the clerk to the appeal tribunal within 14 days of the date of issue of the direction of the clerk to the appeal tribunal under paragraph (1) or within such longer period as the clerk to the appeal tribunal may direct.

(4) Where a party to the proceedings notifies the clerk to the appeal tribunal in accordance with paragraph (3) that he wishes to have an oral hearing of the appeal or referral, the appeal tribunal shall hold an oral hearing.

(5) The chairman, or in the case of an appeal tribunal which has only one member, that member, may of his own motion direct that an oral hearing of the appeal or referral be held if he is satisfied that such a hearing is necessary to enable the appeal tribunal to reach a decision.