# The Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunals Rules 1997, Article 13: Directions in preparation for a hearing


(1) The Tribunal may at any time, on the application of a party or on its own initiative, give such directions (including the issue of a witness summons or, where the Tribunal is sitting in Scotland, a citation) as are provided in this Part to enable the parties to prepare for the hearing or to assist the Tribunal to determine the issues:
Provided that in exercising the powers conferred by this rule, the Tribunal shall take into account the need to protect any matter that relates to intimate personal or financial circumstances, is commercially sensitive, consists of information communicated or obtained in confidence or concerns personal or national security.
(2) Directions containing a requirement under this Part shall, as appropriate—
(a) include an explanation of the possible consequences for the appeal, as provided by rule 17 below, of a party’s failure to comply with the requirement within the time allowed by the Tribunal;
(b) contain a reference to the provisions of section 93(3) (non compulsion to give evidence or produce documents) and section 94 (offences in connection with appeals) of the Act;
(c) in the case of a witness summons or citation, except where the application for the summons or citation was made in the presence of the person to whom the summons or citation is addressed, draw to that person’s attention his right to apply to the Tribunal under rule 18 below to vary or set aside the summons or citation.
(3) The Secretary shall immediately send a copy of all directions to the parties and any other person to whom they apply, except that a copy need not be sent to any person who was present or represented when the direction was made.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/798/article/13 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/reserve-forces-appeal-tribunals-rules-1997/article-13
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.