5.—(1) Where, immediately before 13th July 2007, two or more outgoing panels had formed a combined panel, there shall be a combined family panel for the local justice areas covered by the combined outgoing panel.
(2) There shall be a combined family panel for the Greater London area.
(3) The Lord Chief Justice may, on the application of the family panels concerned and after consultation with the Area Director, give approval for—
(a)the formation of a combined family panel in respect of two or more local justice areas; or
(b)the dissolution of a combined family panel (including a combined family panel referred to in paragraph (1) or (2)).