Article 17 Time and place of hearings

(1)

Subject to rules 14(3) and 16 above, where the Tribunal has directed that a hearing shall take place, the Tribunal shall appoint a time and place for the hearing as soon as practicable and with due regard to the convenience of the parties and any request made under rule 4(4) or 8(6) above.

(2)

The proper officer shall send to each party a notice informing him of the time and place of any hearing.

(3)

The reference to a “party” in paragraph (2) above does not include the Commissioner in the case of an appeal under section 48(3) of the 1998 Act other than a case to which rule 6(3)(a) above applies.

(4)

The time notified under paragraph (1) above shall not be earlier than 14 days after the date on which the notice is sent unless—

(a)

the parties agree otherwise, or

(b)

the appellant agrees otherwise, and the hearing relates to an appeal under section 48(3) of the 1998 Act.

(5)

A notice to a party under this rule shall inform him of the effect of rule 20 below.

(6)

The Tribunal may—

(a)

postpone the time appointed for any hearing;

(b)

adjourn a hearing to such time as the Tribunal may determine; or

(c)

alter the time and place appointed for any hearing;

and, if it exercises any of the above powers, it shall notify each party previously notified of that hearing under this rule, and any person summoned under rule 18 below to attend as a witness at that hearing, of the revised arrangements.