SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 3The Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission
Constitution and administration
1
1
The Commission shall consist of members appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
2
The Lord Chancellor shall appoint one of the members as chairman.
3
A member shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
4
A member may resign at any time by notice in writing to the Lord Chancellor.
2
The Lord Chancellor may appoint officers and servants for the Commission.
3
The Lord Chancellor—
a
may pay sums by way of remuneration, allowances, pensions and gratuities to or in respect of members, officers and servants,
b
may pay compensation to a person who ceases to be a member of the Commission if the Lord Chancellor thinks it appropriate because of special circumstances, and
c
may pay sums in respect of expenses of the Commission.
Procedure
4
1
The Commission shall sit at such times and in such places as the Lord Chancellor may direct.
2
The Commission may sit in two or more divisions.
3
At each sitting of the Commission—
a
three members shall attend,
b
one of the members shall be a person who holds or has held high judicial office (within the meaning of the [1876 c. 59.] Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876), and
c
the chairman or another member nominated by him shall preside and report the Commission’s decision.
5
1
The Lord Chancellor may make rules—
a
regulating the exercise of the right of appeal to the Commission;
b
prescribing practice and procedure to be followed in relation to proceedings before the Commission;
c
providing for proceedings before the Commission to be determined without an oral hearing in specified circumstances;
d
making provision about evidence in proceedings before the Commission (including provision about the burden of proof and admissibility of evidence);
e
making provision about proof of the Commission’s decisions.
2
In making the rules the Lord Chancellor shall, in particular, have regard to the need to secure—
a
that decisions which are the subject of appeals are properly reviewed, and
b
that information is not disclosed contrary to the public interest.
3
The rules shall make provision permitting organisations to be legally represented in proceedings before the Commission.
4
The rules may, in particular—
a
provide for full particulars of the reasons for proscription or refusal to deproscribe to be withheld from the organisation or applicant concerned and from any person representing it or him;
b
enable the Commission to exclude persons (including representatives) from all or part of proceedings;
c
enable the Commission to provide a summary of evidence taken in the absence of a person excluded by virtue of paragraph (b);
d
permit preliminary or incidental functions to be discharged by a single member;
e
permit proceedings for permission to appeal under section 6 to be determined by a single member;
f
make provision about the functions of persons appointed under paragraph 7;
g
make different provision for different parties or descriptions of party.
5
Rules under this paragraph—
a
shall be made by statutory instrument, and
b
shall not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
6
In this paragraph a reference to proceedings before the Commission includes a reference to proceedings arising out of proceedings before the Commission.
6
1
This paragraph applies to—
a
proceedings brought by an organisation before the Commission, and
b
proceedings arising out of proceedings to which paragraph (a) applies.
2
Proceedings shall be conducted on behalf of the organisation by a person designated by the Commission (with such legal representation as he may choose to obtain).
3
In paragraphs 5 and 8 of this Schedule a reference to an organisation includes a reference to a person designated under this paragraph.
7
1
The relevant law officer may appoint a person to represent the interests of an organisation or other applicant in proceedings in relation to which an order has been made by virtue of paragraph 5(4)(b).
2
The relevant law officer is—
a
in relation to proceedings in England and Wales, the Attorney General,
b
in relation to proceedings in Scotland, the Advocate General for Scotland, and
c
in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
3
A person appointed under this paragraph must—
a
have a general qualification for the purposes of section 71 of the [1990 c. 41.] Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (qualification for legal appointments),
b
be an advocate or a solicitor who has rights of audience in the Court of Session or the High Court of Justiciary by virtue of section 25A of the [1980 c. 46.] Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980, or
c
be a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
4
A person appointed under this paragraph shall not be responsible to the organisation or other applicant whose interests he is appointed to represent.
5
In paragraphs 5 and 8 of this Schedule a reference to a representative does not include a reference to a person appointed under this paragraph.
8
1
Section 9(1) of the [1985 c. 56.] Interception of Communications Act 1985 (exclusion of evidence) shall not apply in relation to—
a
proceedings before the Commission, or
b
proceedings arising out of proceedings to which paragraph (a) applies.
2
Evidence admitted by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall not be disclosed to—
a
the organisation concerned,
b
the applicant (where the organisation is not also the applicant), or
c
any person representing the organisation concerned or the applicant.