Admission to a hearing
7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, a hearing shall be held in public.
(2) The Director General may direct that the whole or any part of a hearing be held in private if he is satisfied that by reason of–
(a)the likelihood of disclosure of intimate personal or financial circumstances;
(b)the likelihood of disclosure of commercially sensitive information or information obtained in confidence; or
(c)exceptional circumstances not falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above,
it is just and reasonable for him to do so.
(3) Where the hearing is in private the Director General may admit such persons as he considers appropriate.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) and (3) above, a member of the Council on Tribunals or of the Scottish Committee of that Council is entitled to be present in his capacity as such even though the hearing or part of the hearing is not in public.