Paragraph 24 Respondent’s response to the allegation or complaint

The Chairman must ask the respondent to respond to each allegation or complaint against him, and his response must be recorded.

If the respondent fails to attend the hearing but the Committee decide to proceed in his absence, he is deemed to have denied each allegation or complaint against him, and that must be recorded.

Any qualified or equivocal response by the respondent must be recorded as a denial of the allegation or complaint.

Where the respondent unequivocally admits an allegation or complaint—

Where the respondent denies or is deemed to deny any allegation or complaint, the procedure specified in rule 26 (denial of some or all allegations or complaints) must be followed.