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).