[F159ANational securityU.K.
[F2(1)Rules of court may make provision for enabling a county court or sheriff court in which a claim is brought in respect of alleged discrimination contrary to this Act (including anything treated by virtue of this Act as amounting to discrimination contrary to this Act), 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;
(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 subsection (1).
(3)A person may be appointed under subsection (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 1990 (c. 41)), or
(b)in relation to proceedings in Scotland, if he is—
(i)an advocate, or
(ii)qualified to practice as a solicitor in Scotland.
(4)A person appointed under subsection (2) shall not be responsible to the person whose interests he is appointed to represent.]]
Extent Information
E1Following the repeal of this Act for E.W.S. by the Equality Act 2010, this section now extends to N.I. only.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 59A inserted (18.4.2006) by Equality Act 2006 (c. 3), ss. 89, 93, (with s. 92); S.I. 2006/1082, art. 2(j)
F2Act repealed (E.W.S.) (1.10.2010 (except for the repeal of ss. 49A-49D) and 5.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), 216(3), Sch. 27 Pt. 1 (as substituted (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, Sch. 2) (with ss. 6(4), 205, and with amendments and savings in the said S.I. 2010/2279, art. 16); S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(15)(f) (with arts. 4-25, Schs. 1-16); S.I. 2011/1066, art. 2(h)