The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Licence Committees and Appeals) Regulations 1991

PART III Appeals

Interpretation of this Part and of Part IV

8.  In this Part of these Regulations and in Part IV below, “appeal” means an appeal under section 20 of the Act(1), and references in this Part to a licence committee are to the licence committee whose determination is appealed against.

Quorum and voting

9.—(1) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority for the purpose of hearing and determining an appeal is 5.

(2) At least two members of the Authority present at such a hearing must be people who are not authorised to carry on or participate in any activity under the authority of a licence and would not be so authorised if outstanding applications were granted.

(3) A member who has not been present throughout the hearing of an appeal may not take part in the Authority’s determination and does not count towards the quorum.

(4) The determination of the Authority is that of the majority of the members present and entitled to take part in the determination.

(5) If there is a tie vote, the Chairman of the Authority has a second, casting vote.

Notice of hearing and of grounds of appeal

10.—(1) The Authority must, within 28 days of the date on which notice of the appeal was served on the Authority, fix a date, time and place for the hearing of the appeal, and must give notice of them to the appellant not less than 42 days (or fewer with the consent of the appellant) before the date so fixed.

(2) Not less than 28 days before the date fixed for the hearing (or fewer with the consent of the Chairman of the Authority), the appellant must give to the Authority and to the licence committee a notice signed by him or on his behalf, stating–

(a) the grounds of appeal,

(b) whether or not the appellant intends to appear or be represented,

(c) if the appellant intends to be represented, the name and address of the representative and whether the Authority should send replies or notices concerning the appeal to the representative instead of the appellant, and

(d) if the appellant intends to call any witnesses, their names and occupations.

(3) If–

(a) the licence committee intends to be represented at the hearing, or any member of the committee intends to appear, or

(b) the licence committee or any member intends to call any witnesses,

the licence committee must, not less than 28 days before the date fixed for the hearing (or fewer with the consent of the appellant and of the Chairman of the Authority), give to the Authority and to the appellant a notice stating, as appropriate, the name and address of the representative, the intention of the member to appear, and the names and occupations of the witnesses.

Evidence

11.—(1) The Authority may before or during the hearing of an appeal require the appellant or the licence committee to produce any document or information which the Authority may require and which it is within the power of the appellant or the licence committee (as the case may be) to deliver.

(2) Where the Authority is of the view that any medical or other technical question arises upon which it would be desirable to have the assistance of an expert, it may make arrangements for a person having appropriate qualifications or experience to inquire into and report on the matter and, if the Authority thinks it appropriate (whether because the appellant or the licence committee has so requested, or for any other reason), to attend at the hearing and give evidence.

(3) A copy of a report received from the expert must be supplied to each party in advance of the hearing or any resumed hearing.

(4) The Chairman of the Authority has power to administer an oath to, or take the affirmation of, any person who gives oral evidence to the Authority.

(5) For the purposes of an appeal there may be produced in evidence to the Authority any document or information even if it would be inadmissible in a court of law, and the Authority may receive in evidence such document or information if the Authority is satisfied that it is desirable in the interests of justice to receive it.

Summoning of witnesses

12.—(1) The Authority may by summons require any person in the United Kingdom to attend as a witness at a hearing of an appeal at such time and place as may be specified in the summons and, subject to paragraph (2) below, at the hearing to answer any questions or produce any documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in question in the appeal, and any person so required must do so; but

(a) no person shall be required to attend in obedience to such a summons unless he has been given at least 7 days notice of the hearing or, if less than 7 days, he has informed the Authority that he accepts such notice as he has been given, and

(b) no person, other than the appellant, shall be required in obedience to such a summons to attend and give evidence or to produce any document unless his necessary travel and subsistence expenses are paid or tendered to him.

(2) No person shall be compelled to give any evidence or produce any document or other material that he could not be compelled to give or produce on a trial of an action in a court of law in that part of the United Kingdom where the appeal is heard.

(3) Each summons under paragraph (1) above–

(a) must refer to the fact that by virtue of section 41(7) of the Act a person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the requirement of that paragraph is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level five on the standard scale or both, and

(b) must contain a statement to the effect that the person to whom it is addressed may apply to the Authority to vary or set aside the summons.

Adjournment of hearing

13.—(1) The Authority may from time to time adjourn the hearing and when doing so may either fix the date, time and place at which the hearing is to be resumed, or leave them to be decided later; but the hearing shall not be resumed at any time, date or place unless the Authority is satisfied that the appellant and the licence committee have been given at least 14 days notice of them (or fewer with the consent of the appellant and of the licence committee).

(2) When any hearing is adjourned in order that further information or evidence may be obtained, the Authority may give instructions about–

(a) the disclosure of such information or evidence to, and

(b) the filing of comments on such information or evidence by,

the appellant and the licence committee prior to the resumption of the hearing.

Procedure on failure to appear

14.  If–

(a) the appellant has been duly notified of the hearing and has given notice that he intends to appear or be represented, but he fails to appear or be represented (as the case may be), or

(b) the licence committee has given notice that it intends to be represented, or that any of its members intends to appear, but it fails to be represented or the member fails to appear (as the case may be),

the Authority may, unless it is satisfied that there is sufficient reason for such absence, hear and determine the appeal in the absence of the missing party, or may adjourn the hearing.

Multiple appeals

15.  The Authority may hear and determine together two or more appeals by the same appellant against determinations of the same licence committee, unless the appellant or the licence committee objects.

(1)

The procedure for giving notice of appeal is set out in section 20(1) and (2) of the Act.