Hearing

27.—(1) At a hearing—

(a) the tribunal shall (subject to these regulations) determine the procedure and conduct;

(b) any person appearing before the tribunal may do so either in person or by his representative;

(c) the parties shall be entitled to—

(i) give relevant evidence;

(ii) call witnesses;

(iii) question any witness; and

(iv) address the tribunal on the evidence and law and generally on the subject matter of the application; and

(d) the tribunal may receive evidence of any fact which seems to it to be relevant, even if the evidence would be inadmissible in proceedings before a court of law, and must not refuse to admit any evidence presented in due time which is admissible at law and is relevant and necessary and has not been improperly obtained.

(2) At a hearing the tribunal may, if it is satisfied that it is just and reasonable to do so, permit a party to rely on reasons not previously stated and on evidence not previously available or not previously adduced.

(3) The tribunal may adjourn a hearing, but if this is done at the request of a party it must consider that it is reasonable to do so having regard to—

(a) the grounds for the request;

(b) the time at which the request is made; and

(c) the convenience of the parties.