The Public Libraries (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1992

Proofs of evidence

10.—(1) A person entitled to appear at the inquiry who proposes to give, or to call another person to give, evidence at the inquiry by reading a proof of evidence shall send a copy of the proof to the appointed person. The Secretary of State, the library authority and any other person so directed by the appointed person shall also supply a written summary of their proof.

(2) The proof and any summary shall be sent to the appointed person not later than—

(a) 3 weeks before the date fixed for the holding of the inquiry, or

(b) where a timetable has been arranged pursuant to rule 7 which specifies a date by which the proof and any summary shall be sent to the appointed person, that date.

(3) Where the Secretary of State or the library authority send a copy of a proof of evidence and a summary to the appointed person in accordance with paragraph (1) they shall at the same time send a copy to every other person entitled to appear at the inquiry; and where any other person so sends such a copy proof and any summary he shall at the same time send a copy to the Secretary of State and the library authority.

(4) Where the appointed person so directs, only the written summary of the proof of evidence shall be read at the inquiry.

(5) Any person required by this rule to send a copy of a proof of evidence to any other person shall send with it a copy of the whole, or the relevant part, of any document referred to in it and not previously supplied under rule 5(4).

(6) The Secretary of State and the library authority shall afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where practicable, to take copies of any document sent to or by them in accordance with any of the preceding paragraphs of this rule.