FAMILY LAW PART I GENERAL PROVISIONS Citation and commencement 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Child Support Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 7th June 1999. Revocation 2 The following Regulations are revoked— a the Child Support Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 ; b the Child Support Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 ; c the Child Support Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 ; and d the Child Support Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 . Transitional provisions 3 1 Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), these Regulations shall apply to— a all proceedings before the Commissioners ; b applications to a chairman for leave to appeal on or after 7th June 1999. 2 In relation to any appeal or application for leave to appeal from any child support appeal tribunal constituted under the Order , these Regulations shall have effect with the modifications that— a “appeal tribunal” includes a reference to any such tribunal; b “Department” includes a reference to a child support officer; c “three months” shall be substituted for “one month” in regulation 10(1) and “42 days” shall be substituted for “one month” in regulations 11(2) and 15(1); and d under regulation 11 a Commissioner may for special reasons accept an application for leave to appeal even though the applicant has not sought to obtain leave to appeal from the Chairman. 3 Any transitional question arising under any application or appeal in consequence of the coming into operation of these Regulations shall be determined by a Commissioner who may for this purpose give such directions as he may think just, including modifying the normal requirements of these Regulations in relation to the application or appeal. Interpretation 4 In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires— “the Order” means the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 ; “the 1999 Regulations” means the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999; “appeal tribunal” means an appeal tribunal constituted under Chapter I of Part II of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 ; “authorised officer” means an officer authorised by the Lord Chancellor in accordance with paragraph 1A of Schedule 4 to the Order ; “the chairman” for the purposes of regulations 10, 11 and 12 means— the person who was the chairman or sole member of the appeal tribunal which gave the decision against which leave to appeal is being sought; ... ... “Commissioner” means a Child Support Commissioner; “funding notice” means the approval letter or civil aid certificate from the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission confirming that assistance by way of representation (ABWOR) or legal aid has been granted; “legally qualified” means being a solicitor or barrister; “live television link” means a television link or other audio and video facilities which allow a person who is not physically present at an oral hearing to see and hear proceedings and be seen and heard by all others who are present (whether physically present or otherwise); “month” means a calendar month; “Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission” means the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission established under Article 3 of the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003; “office” means the office of the Child Support Commissioners; “panel member” means a person appointed to the panel constituted under Article 7 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and who is a barrister or solicitor. “party” means a party to the proceedings; “proceedings” means any proceedings before a Commissioner, whether by way of an application for leave to appeal to, or from, a Commissioner, by way of an appeal or otherwise; and “respondent” means any person, other than the applicant or appellant, who was a party to the proceedings before the appeal tribunal and any other person who, pursuant to a direction given under regulation 18 is served with notice of the appeal. General powers of a Commissioner 5 1 Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, a Commissioner may adopt any procedure in relation to proceedings before him. 2 A Commissioner may— a extend or abridge any time limit under these Regulations (including, subject to regulations 11(3) and 15(2), granting an extension where the time limit has expired); b expedite, postpone or adjourn any proceedings. 3 Subject to paragraph (4), a Commissioner may, on or without the application of a party, strike out any proceedings for want of prosecution or abuse of process. 4 Before making an order under paragraph (3), the Commissioner shall send notice to the party against whom it is proposed that it should be made giving him an opportunity to make representations why it should not be made. 5 A Commissioner may, on application by the party concerned, give leave to reinstate any proceedings which have been struck out in accordance with paragraph (3) and, on giving leave, he may give directions as to the conduct of the proceedings. 6 Nothing in these Regulations shall affect any power which is exercisable apart from these Regulations. Transfer of proceedings between Commissioners 6 If it becomes impractical or inexpedient for a Commissioner to continue to deal with proceedings which are or have been before him, any other Commissioner may rehear or deal with those proceedings and any related matters. Delegation of functions to authorised officers 7 1 The following functions of Commissioners may be exercised by legally qualified authorised officers, to be known as legal officers to the Commissioners— a giving directions under regulations 8, 18 and 19; b determining requests for or directing hearings under regulation 21; c summoning witnesses, and setting aside summonses made by a legal officer, under regulation 23; d postponing a hearing under regulation 5; e giving leave to withdraw or reinstate applications or appeals under regulation 24; f waiving irregularities under regulation 25 in connection with any matter being dealt with by a legal officer; and g extending or abridging time, directing expedition, giving notices, striking out and reinstating proceedings under regulation 5. 2 Any party may, within 14 days of being sent notice of the direction or order of a legal officer, make a written request to a Commissioner asking him to reconsider the matter and confirm or replace the direction or order with his own, but, unless ordered by a Commissioner, a request shall not stop proceedings under the direction or order. Manner of and time for service of notices, etc 8 1 A notice to or other document for any party shall be deemed duly served if it is— a delivered to him personally; or b properly addressed and sent to him by pre-paid post at the address last notified by him for this purpose, or to his ordinary address; or ba subject to paragraph (1A), sent by e-mail; or c served in any other manner a Commissioner may direct. 1A A document may be served by e-mail on any party if the recipient has informed the person sending the e-mail in writing— a that he is willing to accept service by e-mail; b of the e-mail address to which the documents should be sent; and c if the recipient wishes to so specify, the electronic format in which documents must be sent. 2 A notice to or other document for a Commissioner shall be — a delivered to the office in person; b sent to the office by pre-paid post; c sent to the office by fax; or d where the office has give written permission in advance, sent to the office by e-mail. 3 For the purposes of any time limit, a properly addressed notice or other document sent by pre-paid post, fax or e-mail is effective from the date it is sent. Confidentiality 9 1 Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the office shall not disclose information such as is mentioned in paragraph (2) except with the written consent of the person to whom the information relates or, in the case of a child, with the written consent of the person with care of him. 2 The information referred to in paragraph (1) is any information provided under the Order which— a relates to any person whose circumstances are relevant to the proceedings; and b consists of that person’s address or other information which could reasonably be expected to lead to him being located. 3 Where— a the office sends a notice to a person to whom information relates stating that the information may be disclosed in the course of proceedings unless he objects within one month of the date of the notice; and b written notice of that person’s objection is not received at the office within one month of the date of the notice, then the information may be disclosed in the course of the proceedings. 4 Where the person to whom information relates is a child, the office shall send the notice referred to in paragraph (3)(a) to the person with care of the child and where written notice of that person’s objection is not received at the office within one month of the date of the notice, then the information may be disclosed in the course of the proceedings. 5 This regulation does not apply to proceedings which relate solely to a reduced benefits direction within the meaning of Article 43(11) of the Order . Legal Aid 9A If a party is granted assistance by way of representation or legal aid, at any time, he shall— a where it is granted by the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission, send a copy of the funding notice to the office; and b notify every other party that it has been granted. PART II APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL AND APEALS Applications to a Chairman for leave to appeal 10 1 Subject to paragraphs (5) and (7), an application to a Chairman for leave to appeal to a Commissioner from a decision of an appeal tribunal shall be made within one month of the date the written statement of the reasons for the decision was sent to the applicant. 2 Where an application for leave to appeal to a Commissioner is made by the Department, the clerk to an appeal tribunal shall, as soon as may be practicable, send a copy of the application to every other party. 3 Any party who is sent a copy of an application for leave to appeal in accordance with paragraph (2) may make representations in writing within one month of the date the application is sent. 4 A person determining an application for leave to appeal to a Commissioner shall take into account any further representations received in accordance with paragraph (3) and shall record his decision in writing and send a copy to each party. 5 Where an applicant has not applied for leave to appeal within one month in accordance with paragraph (1), but makes an application within one year beginning on the day the one month ends, the chairman may for special reasons accept the late application. 6 Where an application for leave to appeal against a decision of an appeal tribunal is made— a if the chairman was a fee-paid panel member, the application may be determined by a salaried panel member; or b if it is impracticable or would be likely to cause undue delay for the application to be determined by the chairman, the application may be determined by another panel member. 7 Where— a any decision or the record of a decision is corrected under regulation 56 of the 1999 Regulations; or b an application for a decision to be set aside under regulation 57 of the 1999 Regulations is refused for reasons other than that the application was made outside the period specified in regulation 57(3) of those Regulations, any time limit specified by this regulation shall run from the date on which notice of the correction or refusal was sent or given to the applicant. Application to a Commissioner for leave to appeal 11 1 An application to a Commissioner for leave to appeal against the decision of an appeal tribunal may be made only where the applicant has sought to obtain leave from the chairman and leave has been refused or the application has been rejected. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), an application to a Commissioner shall be made within one month of the date that notice of the refusal or rejection was sent to the applicant by the appeal tribunal. 3 A Commissioner may for special reasons accept a late application or an application where the applicant failed to seek leave from the chairman within the specified time, but did so on or before the final date. 4 In paragraph (3) the final date means the end of a period of 13 months from the date on which the decision of the appeal tribunal or, if later, any separate statement of the reasons for it, was sent to the applicant by the appeal tribunal. Notice of an application for leave to appeal 12 1 An application to a chairman or Commissioner for leave to appeal shall be made by notice in writing, and shall contain— a the name and address of the applicant; b the grounds on which the applicant intends to rely; c if the application is made late, the grounds for seeking late acceptance; and d an address for sending notices and other documents to the applicant. 2 The notice in paragraph (1) shall have with it copies of— a the decision against which leave to appeal is sought; b if separate, the written statement of the appeal tribunal’s reasons for it; and c if it is an application to a Commissioner, the notice of refusal or rejection sent to the applicant by the appeal tribunal. 3 Where an application for leave to appeal is made to a Commissioner by the Department, it shall send each respondent a copy of the notice of application and any documents sent with it when they are sent to the Commissioner. Determination of application 13 1 The office shall send written notice to the applicant and each respondent of any determination of an application for leave to appeal to a Commissioner. 2 Subject to a direction by a Commissioner, where a Commissioner grants leave to appeal under regulation 11— a notice of appeal shall be deemed to have been sent on the date when notice of the determination is sent to the applicant; and b the notice of application shall be deemed to be a notice of appeal sent under regulation 14. 3 If a Commissioner grants an application for leave to appeal he may, with the consent of the applicant and each respondent, treat and determine the application as an appeal. Notice of appeal 14 1 Subject to regulation 13(2), an appeal shall be made by notice in writing and shall contain— a the name and address of the appellant; b the date on which the appellant was notified that leave to appeal had been granted; c the grounds on which the appellant intends to rely; d if the appeal is made late, the grounds for seeking late acceptance; and e an address for sending notices and other documents to the appellant. 2 The notice in paragraph (1) shall have with it copies of— a the notice informing the appellant that leave to appeal has been granted; b the decision against which leave to appeal has been granted; and c if separate, the written statement of the appeal tribunal’s reasons for it. Time limit for appealing after leave obtained 15 1 Subject to paragraph (2), a notice of appeal shall not be valid unless it is sent to a Commissioner within one month of the date on which the appellant was sent written notice that leave to appeal had been granted. 2 A Commissioner may for special reasons accept a late notice of appeal. Acknowledgement of a notice of appeal and notification to each respondent 16 The office shall send— a to the appellant, an acknowledgement of the receipt of the notice of appeal; and b to each respondent, a copy of the notice of appeal. PART III PROCEDURE Representation 17 A party may conduct his case himself (with assistance from any person if he wishes) or be represented by any person whom he may appoint for the purpose. Directions on notice of appeal 18 1 As soon as practicable after the receipt of a notice of appeal a Commissioner shall give any directions that appear to him to be necessary, specifying— a the parties who are to be respondents to the appeal; and b the order in which and the time within which any party is to be allowed to make written observations on the appeal or on the observations made by any other party. 2 If in any case two or more persons who were parties to the proceedings before the appeal tribunal give notice of appeal to a Commissioner, a Commissioner shall direct which one of them is to be treated as the appellant and thereafter, but without prejudice to any rights or powers conferred on appellants by these Regulations, any other person who has given notice of appeal shall be treated as a respondent. 3 Subject to an abridgement of time under regulation 5(2)(a), the time specified in directions given under paragraph (1)(b) shall be not less than one month beginning with the day on which the notice of the appeal or, as the case may be, the observations were sent to the party concerned. General Directions 19 1 Where a Commissioner considers that an application or appeal made to him gives insufficient particulars to enable the question at issue to be determined, he may direct the party making the application or appeal, or any respondent, to furnish any further particulars as may reasonably be required. 2 In the case of an application for leave to appeal, or an appeal from a an appeal tribunal, a Commissioner may, before determining the application or appeal, direct the tribunal to submit a statement of such facts or other matters as he considers necessary for the proper determination of that application or appeal. 3 At any stage of the proceedings, a Commissioner may, on or without an application, give any directions as he may consider necessary or desirable for the efficient despatch of the proceedings. 4 A Commissioner may direct any party before him to make any written observations as may seem to him necessary to enable the question at issue to be determined. 5 An application under paragraph (3) shall be made in writing to a Commissioner and shall set out the direction which the applicant seeks. 6 Unless a Commissioner shall otherwise determine, the office shall send a copy of an application under paragraph (3) to every other party. Procedure on linked case notice from the Department 20 Any notice from the Department to a Commissioner under Article 28ZB of the Order (Appeal involving issues that arise on appeal in other cases) shall be in writing and shall identify each appeal or application to which it relates. Requests for hearings 21 1 Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) a Commissioner may determine any proceedings without a hearing. 2 Where a request for a hearing is made by any party, a Commissioner shall grant the request unless he is satisfied that the proceedings can properly be determined without a hearing. 3 Where a Commissioner refuses a request for hearing, he shall send written notice to the person making the request, either before or at the same time as making his determination or decision. 4 A Commissioner may, without an application and at any stage, direct a hearing. Hearings 22 1 This regulation applies to any hearing of an application or appeal to which these Regulations apply. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), the office shall give reasonable notice of the time and place of any hearing before a Commissioner. 3 Unless all the parties concerned agree to a hearing at shorter notice, the period of notice specified under paragraph (2) shall be at least 14 days before the date of the hearing. 4 If any party to whom notice of a hearing has been sent fails to appear at the hearing, the Commissioner may proceed with the case in that party’s absence, or may give directions with a view to the determination of the case. 5 Any hearing before a Commissioner shall be in public, unless the Commissioner for special reasons directs otherwise. 6 Where a Commissioner holds a hearing the applicant or appellant, every respondent and, with the leave of a Commissioner, any other person, shall be entitled to be present and be heard. 6A Subject to the direction of a Commissioner— a any person or organisation entitled to be present and be heard at a hearing; and b any representative of such a person or organisation, may be present by means of a live television link. 6B Any provision in these Regulations which refers to a party or representative being present is satisfied if the party or representative is present by means of a live television link. 7 Any person entitled to be heard at hearing may— a address the Commissioner; b with the leave of the Commissioner, give evidence, call witnesses and put questions directly to any other person called as a witness. Summoning of witnesses 23 1 Subject to paragraph (2), a Commissioner may summon any person to attend a hearing as a witness, at such time and place as may be specified in the summons, to answer any questions or produce any documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in question in the proceedings. 2 A person shall not be required to attend in obedience to a summons under paragraph (1) unless he has been given at least 14 days' notice before the date of the hearing or, if less than 14 days, has informed the Commissioner that he accepts such notice as he has been given. 3 Upon the application of a person summoned under this regulation, a Commissioner may set the summons aside. 4 A Commissioner may require any witness to give evidence on oath and for this purpose an oath may be administered in due form. Withdrawal of applications for leave to appeal and appeals 24 1 At any time before it is determined, an applicant may withdraw an application to a Commissioner for leave to appeal against a decision of an appeal tribunal by giving written notice to a Commissioner. 2 At any time before the decision is made, the appellant may withdraw his appeal with the leave of a Commissioner. 3 A Commissioner may, on application by the party concerned, give leave to reinstate any application or appeal which has been withdrawn in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) and, on giving leave, he may make directions as to the conduct of the proceedings. Irregularities 25 Any irregularity resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of these Regulations shall not, by itself, invalidate any proceedings and the Commissioner, before reaching his decision, may waive the irregularity or take steps to remedy it. PART IV DECISIONS Determinations and decisions of a Commissioner 26 1 The determination of a Commissioner on an application for leave to appeal shall be in writing and signed by him. 2 The decision of a Commissioner on an appeal shall be in writing and signed by him and, unless it was a decision made with the consent of the parties, he shall include the reasons. 3 The office shall send a copy of the determination or decision and any reasons to each party. 4 Without prejudice to paragraphs (2) and (3), a Commissioner may announce his determination or decision at the end of a hearing. 5 When giving his decision on an application or appeal, whether in writing or orally, a Commissioner shall omit any reference to the surname of any child to whom the application or appeal relates and so far as practicable, any other information which would be likely, whether directly or indirectly, to identify that child. Correction of accidental errors in decisions 27 1 Subject to regulations 6 and 29, the Commissioner who gave the decision may at any time correct accidental errors in any decision or record of a decision. 2 A correction made to, or to the record of, a decision shall become part of the decision or record, and the office shall send written notice of the correction to any party to whom notice of the decision has been sent. Setting aside decisions on certain grounds 28 1 Subject to regulations 6 and 29, on an application made by any party, the Commissioner who gave the decision in proceedings may set it aside where it appears just to do so on the ground that— a a document relating to the proceedings was not sent to, or was not received at an appropriate time by, a party or his representative, or was not received at an appropriate time by the Commissioner; or b a party or his representative was not present at a hearing before the Commissioner; ... c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 An application under this regulation shall be made in writing to a Commissioner within one month from the date on which the office gave written notice of the decision to the party making the application. 3 Unless the Commissioner considers that it is unnecessary for the proper determination of an application made under paragraph (1), the office shall send a copy of it to each respondent, who shall be given a reasonable opportunity to make representations on it. 4 The office shall send each party written notice of a determination of an application to set aside a decision and the reasons for it. Provisions common to regulations 27 and 28 29 1 In regulations 27 and 28, the word “decision” shall include determinations of applications for leave to appeal as well as decisions on appeals. 2 There shall be no appeal against a correction or a refusal to correct under regulation 27 or a determination given under regulation 28. PART V APPLICATIONS TO A COMMISIONER FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL Applications to a Commissioner for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal 30 1 Subject to paragraph (2), an application to a Commissioner under Article 26 of the Order for leave to appeal against a decision of a Commissioner shall be made in writing, stating the grounds of the application, within three months from the date on which the applicant was sent written notice of the decision. 2 Where— a any decision or record of any decision is corrected under regulation 27; or b an application for a decision to be set aside under regulation 28 is refused for reasons other than that the application was made outside the period specified in regulation 28(2), the period specified in paragraph (1) shall run from the date on which written notice of the correction or refusal of the application to set aside is sent to the applicant. 3 Paragraphs (1) and (3) of regulation 24 shall apply to an application to a Commissioner for leave to appeal from a Commissioner’s decision as they apply to the proceedings in that regulation. Irvine of Lairg, C. Dated 12th May 1999