# The Gas (Underground Storage) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1966, Article 8: Procedure at Inquiry


(1) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the procedure at the inquiry shall be such as the appointed person shall in his discretion determine.
(2) Unless in any particular case the appointed person with the consent of the applicants otherwise determines, the applicants shall begin and shall have the right of final reply; and the other persons entitled or permitted to appear shall be heard in such order as the appointed person may determine.
(3) The applicants and the statutory objectors shall be entitled to call evidence and cross-examine persons giving evidence, but any other person appearing at the inquiry may do so only to the extent permitted by the appointed person.
(4) The appointed person shall not require or permit the giving or production of any evidence, whether written or oral, which would be contrary to the public interest; but save as aforesaid and without prejudice to paragraph (3) of rule 7 any evidence may be admitted at the discretion of the appointed person, who may direct that documents tendered in evidence may be inspected by any person entitled or permitted to appear at the inquiry and that facilities be afforded him to take or obtain copies thereof.
(5) The appointed person may allow the applicants to alter or add to the submissions contained in the statement served under paragraph (1) of rule 5 or to any list of documents which accompanied such statement, so far as may be necessary for the purpose of determining the questions in controversy between the parties, but shall (if necessary by adjourning the inquiry) give every statutory objector an adequate opportunity of considering any fresh submission or document; and the appointed person may make in his report a recommendation as to the payment of any additional costs occasioned by such an adjournment.
(6) If any person entitled to appear at the inquiry fails to do so, the appointed person may proceed with the inquiry at his discretion.
(7) The appointed person shall be entitled (subject to disclosure thereof at the inquiry) to take into account any written representations or statement received by him before the inquiry from any person.
(8) The appointed person may from time to time adjourn the inquiry and, if the date, time and place of the adjourned inquiry are announced before the adjournment, no further notice shall be required.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1966/1375/article/8 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/gas-underground-storage-inquiries-procedure-rules-1966/article-8
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.