Regulation 10 Preliminary hearing
The secretary shall send to the appellant and the Commission and, in the case of an appeal under section 58(2) of the Act, the friendly society concerned a notice informing them of the time and place of the preliminary hearing which, unless the appellant and the Commission otherwise agree, shall be–
not earlier than 5 days after the date on which the notice is sent; and
not earlier than 21 days and not later than 35 days after the date of receipt by the secretary of the notice of appeal unless the chairman otherwise directs on the ground that he considers that the preliminary hearing should be held as a matter of urgency.
The preliminary hearing shall be in private and shall be heard by the chairman.
The appellant and the Commission and, in the case of an appeal under section 58(2) of the Act, the friendly society concerned may appear at the preliminary hearing and may be represented by counsel or solicitor or by any other person.
At the preliminary hearing the chairman shall give such directions as he considers necessary or desirable for the conduct of the appeal and shall fix the date for the hearing.
Notwithstanding that the preliminary hearing shall be in private, the other members of the Tribunal may attend and a member of the Council on Tribunals may attend in his capacity as such.