Article 40 Correspondence in connection with legal mattersI1

A child who is party to any legal proceedings may correspond with his legal adviser or any court, national or international, in connection with those proceedings.

A child may correspond with a solicitor for the purpose of obtaining legal advice concerning any matter in relation to which he is or may become a party to legal proceedings or for the purpose of instructing the solicitor to issue proceedings or to allow him to conduct any legal business.

A child shall on request be provided with any writing materials necessary for the purpose of paragraph (1) or (2).

No correspondence to which this rule applies shall be opened by the director unless he has reason to believe that it contains matter not related to actual or potential legal proceedings or other legal business.

A child shall be given the opportunity to be present when any correspondence to which this rule applies is opened and shall be informed if it or any enclosures is or are to be read or stopped.

Subject to any directions given in the particular case by the Secretary of State, a registered medical practitioner selected by or on behalf of a child to whom paragraph (1) applies shall be afforded reasonable facilities for examining him in connection with the legal proceedings and may do so out of hearing but in sight of an appropriate member of staff.