26.—(1) An appeal on a question of law shall lie to the Court of Appeal from any decision of a Child Support Commissioner.
(2) No such appeal may be brought except—
(a)with leave of the Child Support Commissioner who gave the decision or, where regulations made by the Lord Chancellor so provide, of a Child Support Commissioner selected in accordance with the regulations; or
(b)if the Child Support Commissioner refuses leave, with the leave of the Court of Appeal.
(3) An application for leave to appeal under this Article against a decision of a Child Support Commissioner (“the appeal decision”) may only be made by—
(a)a person who was a party to the proceedings in which the original decision, or appeal decision, was given;
(b)the Department; or
(c)any other person who is authorised to do so by regulations made by the Lord Chancellor.
(4) In this Article “original decision” means the decision to which the appeal decision in question relates.
(5) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision with respect to—
(a)the manner in which and the time within which applications must be made to a Child Support Commissioner for leave under this Article; and
(b)the procedure for dealing with such applications.