Paragraph 15 Substitution of rules 22 to 24 and new rule 24A

For rules 22 to 24 substitute the following rules—

“22.

Subject to rule 24A, when considering any matter relating to the fitness to practise of one or more registered optometrists or registered students undertaking training as optometrists (including a combination of both those types of registrant)—

(a)

at a procedural hearing or an interim order hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(i)

one registered optometrist, and

(ii)

two lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29; or

(b)

at a substantive hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(i)

two registered optometrists, and

(ii)

three lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29.

23.

Subject to rule 24A, when considering any matter relating to the fitness to practise of one or more registered dispensing opticians or registered students undertaking training as dispensing opticians (including a combination of both those types of registrant)—

(a)

at a procedural hearing or an interim order hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(i)

one registered dispensing optician, and

(ii)

two lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29; or

(b)

at a substantive hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(i)

two registered dispensing opticians, and

(ii)

three lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29.

24.

When considering any matter relating to the fitness to practise of one or more business registrants to carry on the business of an optometrist or dispensing optician or both—

(a)

at a procedural hearing or an interim order hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(i)

one registered optometrist or registered dispensing optician, and

(ii)

two lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29; or

(b)

at a substantive hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(i)

one registered optometrist,

(ii)

one registered dispensing optician, and

(iii)

three lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29.

24A.

(1)

This rule applies where—

(a)

the Fitness to Practise Committee is considering making a direction under rule 22 of the General Optical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2005^f1 (joinder) that one hearing is to be held in relation to two or more registrants, and—

(i)

either—

(aa)

at least one of them is a registered optometrist or a registered student undertaking training as an optometrist, and

(bb)

at least one of them is a registered dispensing optician or a registered student undertaking training as a dispensing optician, or

(ii)

at least one of them is a business registrant and at least one of them is an individual registrant; or

(b)

a direction has been made in the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (a) and there are further hearings in the case to which the direction relates before the Fitness to Practise Committee.

(2)

If the hearing is a procedural hearing or an interim order hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(a)

one registered optometrist or registered dispensing optician, and

(b)

two lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29.

(3)

If the hearing is a substantive hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of—

(a)

one registered optometrist;

(b)

one registered dispensing optician; and

(c)

three lay persons,

who are each selected in accordance with rule 29.”