SCHEDULETHE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL FOR SCOTLAND HEALTH AND EDUCATION CHAMBER RULES OF PROCEDURE 2018
PART 3Procedure in respect of disability claims under paragraph 8 of schedule 17 of the 2010 Act.
Attendance at hearings84
1
Subject to the provisions of this rule, any hearing before the First-tier Tribunal shall be in private.
2
A legal member or the First-tier Tribunal at a hearing may, on the application of the claimant or on their own initiative, make an order that a hearing or part of a hearing be held in public.
3
An order shall not be made under paragraph (2) in any of the circumstances referred to in paragraph (4).
4
Those circumstances are that a public hearing—
a
would prejudice the welfare, wellbeing or interests of the person to whom the claim relates;
b
would not, in all the circumstances, allow the fair hearing of the claim; or
c
would not be fair or just.
5
The First-tier Tribunal, with the consent of the parties or their representatives actually present, may permit any other person to attend the hearing of a claim which is held in private.
6
A claimant or responsible body who does not intend to attend or be represented at the hearing may, not less than 5 working days before the hearing, submit additional written representations in support of their case.
7
The following persons, as well as the parties and their representatives, shall be entitled to attend the hearing of a claim held in private—
a
the person to whom the claim relates, where the person is the claimant;
b
a parent of the person to whom the claim relates where the person is not the claimant;
c
an individual attending to support a party;
d
an individual appointed under rule 89(4);
e
a witness, but only for the purpose of giving evidence;
f
the Chamber President and a member of the First-tier Tribunal (when not sitting as a member of the First-tier Tribunal);
g
a member of staff of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service;
h
an interpreter;
i
a person giving necessary assistance to a person entitled to attend the hearing.
8
Without prejudice to any other powers it may have, the First-tier Tribunal may exclude from the hearing, or any part of it—
a
a person whose conduct has disrupted or is likely, in the opinion of the First-tier Tribunal, to disrupt the hearing;
b
a person whose presence is likely, in the opinion of the First-tier Tribunal, to make it difficult for anyone to present evidence or make representations necessary for the proper conduct of the hearing;
c
a representative who was not notified to the First-tier Tribunal in the claim, response or in accordance with rule 4;
d
a witness not included in the list of witnesses submitted by either party in accordance with rule 79(1).