The Foreign Compensation Commission (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Rules Approval Instrument 1987

• Citation: S.I. 1987/143
• Sections: 38

Section 1 Citation and application

(1) These Rules may be cited as the Foreign Compensation Commission (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Rules 1987.

(2) These Rules shall apply to all applications under the Foreign Compensation (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (Registration and Determination of Claims) Order 1986 from the date they come into force and no rules heretofore made by the Commission shall thereafter apply to such applications.

Section 2 Interpretation

(1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires:–

“bond claim” means a claim in respect of a bond under Part II of the Order ;

“the Commission” means the Foreign Compensation Commission;

“ Commissioner ” means the Chairman or other member of the Commission;

“determination” means the determination of a claim under rule 9 or rule 29 of these rules;

“Legal Officer” means a Legal Officer appointed by the Commission to represent the interests of the Fund and any person authorised by the Commission to act in that behalf;

“the Order” means the Foreign Compensation (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (Registration and Determination of Claims) Order 1986 ;

“personal injury claim” means a claim in respect of personal injury or death under Part V of the Order;

“personal representative” means the person to whom a grant of probate or confirmation or letters of administration shall have been made in any part of the United Kingdom;

“pleading” means the application (or any other document accepted by the Commission in lieu thereof), an Answer, a reply and any particulars delivered in respect of such documents;

“property claim” means a claim in respect of property under Part IV of the Order;

“Registrar” means a Registrar appointed by the Commission and any person authorized to act in that behalf;

(2) Expressions defined in the Order shall have the meanings therein assigned to them.

Section 3 Claims

Unless the Commission otherwise order, a claim shall be made by an application in the appropriate form issued or approved by the Commission, which shall be signed by the applicant or, in the case of a corporation, by the secretary or a director. Applications shall be addressed to the Commission and delivered by prepaid post or by hand.

Section 4 Time and form of applications

(1) No application shall be entertained unless–

(a) being an application in respect of a bond claim, it has reached the Commission on or before 31st March 1987;

(b) being an application in respect of a property claim or of a personal injury claim, it has reached the Commission on or before 30th June 1987.

(2) An applicant shall be deemed to have complied with paragraph (1) if he shall have delivered to the Commission on or before the relevant date the application form issued by the Commission duly completed and signed or such other document as the Commission may accept as giving sufficient notice of the claim:

Provided that if the application was not made on the form issued by the Commission the Commission may require the applicant to complete an application in the appropriate form within a period specified by the Commission.

(3) A claim which has been withdrawn shall not be further entertained except with the leave of the Commission.

Section 5 Estates of deceased persons

Where a person has died who was qualified to make an application under the Order, an application may be made in respect of a claim on behalf of his estate notwithstanding that there is no personal representative, by any person who–

(a) has taken out a grant of probate or administration in respect of that estate in any part of the Commonwealth other than the United Kingdom; or

(b) is named as an executor in the last will of the deceased person; or

(c) appears to the Commission to be the widower, widow, child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister of the deceased person:

Provided that–

(i) the Commission shall not accept more than one application on behalf of the same estate;

(ii) the Commission may at any time as regards any applicant require a grant of probate or administration to be obtained in the United Kingdom and may set a time limit within which such grant of probate or administration shall be obtained and produced to the Commission;

(iii) upon the obtaining of such a grant the person to whom it is made, if not already an applicant, shall be substituted as applicant by order of the Commission on his signing all appropriate forms.

Section 6 Minors

(1) Applications may be made on behalf of a minor by his parent or guardian, or any person appointed for the purpose by his parent or guardian, or a person appointed by the Commission.

(2) Upon any such minor attaining full age, the application shall be carried on in his name unless he shall withdraw it in writing upon or within three months after his attaining full age.

Section 7 Unincorporated associations

(1) Where an application under the Order is made in respect of any property of an unincorporated association, charitable or otherwise, the Commission may appoint any two or more persons who appear to them to be suitable to represent the interests of the association to make or continue an application on its behalf.

(2) The Commission may at any time discharge any appointment so made or appoint any other person in addition to, or in substitution for, any person previously so appointed.

(3) No person shall be appointed under the preceding paragraphs of this rule without his consent in writing.

(4) Any person for the time being so appointed shall for all the purposes of these Rules be deemed to be an applicant.

Section 8 Bond claims

(1) The Commission shall register a claim in respect of a bond if–

(a) they are satisfied the claim has been made in proper form by an applicant entitled to claim;

(b) the application is supported by a statutory declaration in Form A in the Appendix; and

(c) the bond to which the application relates has been delivered to the Commission.

(2) Without prejudice to the requirements of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (1), the Commission may at any time give such directions as they think fit regarding the production by the applicant of written evidence in support of his application.

(3) Rules 9 to 11, 13, 18, 20 to 23 and 28 to 37 of these Rules shall not apply to bond claims.

Section 9 Unopposed property and personal injury claims

(1) With or without prior consultation with the Commission, the Legal Officer may at any time file with the Registrar a statement recommending the Commission to admit a property claim or a personal injury claim in the sum claimed or at a sum agreed in writing by the applicant, and the Commission may determine the claim accordingly.

(2) Before making a determination under the provisions of paragraph (1), the Commission may require an applicant to make or obtain a statutory declaration of the statements by which he has supported his claim.

Section 10 Answer

If the Legal Officer does not make a recommendation under the provisions of rule 9 or the Commission do not accept a recommendation so made, then unless the Commission otherwise direct, the Legal Officer shall file an Answer, a copy of which shall be served on the applicant, stating which facts in the application he admits and which facts he denies and any other facts or submissions on which he relies.

Section 11 Reply, written argument and evidence

(1) If the applicant wishes to reply to the Answer, he shall deliver his reply within 28 days of service of the Answer unless the Commission otherwise direct.

(2) Such reply shall contain any additional facts and submissions upon which he relies and shall be accompanied by any further evidence he wishes to put before the Commission.

(3) A copy of such reply shall be served by the Registrar on the Legal Officer who may make written submissions to the Commission thereon.

Section 12 Further particulars

The Commission may direct the Legal Officer or an applicant to give further particulars of any pleading. If the applicant thereafter fails to comply with any such directions within the time specified the Commission may treat the claim in question as withdrawn.

Section 13 Adjudication

(1) The Commission may if they think fit direct that a claim shall be the subject of an oral hearing.

(2) If the Commission make such a direction, notice of not less than 21 days, unless the applicant otherwise agrees, shall be given to the applicant and the Legal Officer by the Registrar of the date of the hearing and of any adjournment thereof.

(3) If the Commission do not direct an oral hearing, the Commission shall proceed to a determination of the claim under rule 29.

(4) Subject to any directions given by the Commission, every oral hearing shall be in public.

Section 14 Amendments

(1) A pleading may be amended only with the leave of the Commission.

(2) A copy of the proposed amendment shall be delivered to the Registrar who shall serve a copy on the applicant or the Legal Officer, as the case may be.

Section 15 Change of applicant

(1) Subject to the provisions of rule 16, an applicant may only be removed from or added to a subsisting application by order of the Commission. An application for such removal or addition shall be in writing and shall state the reasons therefor and particulars of the proposed new applicant and shall be served on the Legal Officer and any applicant who may be affected.

(2) If the Legal Officer or any applicant desires to oppose such application he shall so inform the Commission and the proposed new applicant within 28 days of the service on him of such application.

Section 16 Death of applicant or devolution or transfer of claims

(1) Upon the death of an applicant or upon any devolution or transfer of any claim, the application may, subject to this rule, be continued as regards any claim not already determined by–

(a) the personal representative of the deceased applicant;

(b) a person claiming to be entitled to continue the application or any claim therein in lieu of any applicant by virtue of any devolution or transfer from the said applicant.

(2) After the expiration of three months from the date of the death of the deceased applicant or from the devolution or transfer of any claim, the application or claim in question may be continued as in paragraph (1) of this rule only with the leave of the Commission.

(3) No person shall be entitled to continue an application or claim under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this rule unless he shall first produce his full particulars and evidence of his title to the satisfaction of the Commission and signs or executes the application form already filed with the Commission.

(4) Failing the grant of leave under paragraph (2), or the taking of action under paragraph (3) of this rule, the Commission shall dismiss the claim.

(5) Nothing in the rule shall be deemed to affect any application or claim surviving to a joint applicant.

Section 17 Language of proceedings and translations

(1) All applications to, and all proceedings of, the Commission under the Order shall be in the English language.

(2) The Commission may order an English translation to be made of any document. Any translation submitted by the applicant may be certified by the Registrar to be a true translation.

(3) The Commission may appoint interpreters to interpret oral evidence or to translate documents.

Section 18 Evidence

The Commission shall not be bound by rules of evidence and may admit in evidence any document or statement whether on oath or not which they deem to have probative value, but no such document or statement may without leave of the Commission be used unless it has been disclosed to the applicant or the Legal Officer, as the case may be, and he has been given a reasonable opportunity to make submissions to the Commission thereon.

Section 19 Associated applications

Where there are pending at the same time two or more applications which could, in the opinion of the Commission, be conveniently taken together, the Commission may, on the application of an applicant or the Legal Officer or of their own motion, order that such several applications or parts thereof be determined at the same time. Upon making such an order the Commission shall give any consequential directions that may be required.

Section 20 Oaths, affirmations and answers

The Commission shall have power at an oral hearing to administer an oath to or take the affirmation of any applicant or witness and to require any such person to take such oath or make such affirmation and to answer any question to which the Commission may lawfully require an answer.

Section 21 Reports or information

The Commission may on an application by the applicant or the Legal Officer in that behalf or of their own motion order that a report or information be provided by any person nominated by the Commission on any matter affecting any claim and a copy thereof shall be supplied to the applicant and the Legal Officer who shall be entitled to comment thereon.

Section 22 Summonses to witnesses and orders to forward documents

(1) A summons for any person to attend to give evidence and to produce documents at an oral hearing shall be in Form B and an order to forward documents shall be in Form C, with such variations as circumstances may require.

(2) Where an applicant or the Legal Officer desires a summons or order to issue, the Registrar may issue the same and, in the case of a summons in Form B, shall specify therein a sum to be tendered to the person to be summoned to attend which shall be reasonably sufficient to cover his expenses in travelling to and from the place of hearing.

(3) An applicant or the Legal Officer, as the case may be, shall serve with the summons an undertaking in Form D to pay to the person summoned to attend compensation for loss of time and any additional expenses which may be certified by the Registrar to have been reasonably incurred.

(4) Each summons or order shall contain the name of one person only and shall be served personally a reasonable time before the date fixed for hearing.

(5) No summons or order issued pursuant to this rule shall be valid unless it is served upon the person named therein within 12 weeks from the date of signature by the Registrar and unless the conditions therein with regard to compensation for loss of time and expenses are complied with.

(6) A person served with a summons to attend to give evidence may apply to the Commission to set aside the same whereupon the Registrar shall send notice of the application to set aside the summons to the person at whose instance it was issued, and after taking into account the representations of both parties the Commission shall direct that the summons be confirmed or order that it be set aside.

Section 23 Taking evidence abroad

The Commission may give such directions for the taking of evidence abroad and for the manner thereof as may be deemed expedient.

Section 24 Extension of time

The time appointed by these Rules, other than any time appointed by paragraph (1) of rule 4, for doing any act or taking any step in proceedings–

(a) shall, if the act is to be done or the step taken by a person normally resident outside the United Kingdom, be extended by 28 days; and

(b) may be extended, if the Commission so order, for any period in their discretion notwithstanding that the time appointed has already expired.

Section 25 Orders and directions and dismissal of applications

Without prejudice to any other provision for orders or directions in these Rules, the Commission may on an application by the applicant or the Legal Officer in that behalf or of their own motion make any order or give any direction in connection with any application or may dismiss any application.

Section 26 Service by post

Save as otherwise provided in these Rules, any notice or other document required or authorised to be served on any person for the purpose of these Rules may be sent by pre-paid post to that person at his last ordinary or permanent address notified to the Commission or other address for service specified in any notice given under these Rules, and if so sent it shall be deemed to have been duly served on the date of such posting. The address of a solicitor instructed by an applicant to act generally in relation to his claim shall be deemed to be an address for service specified as aforesaid.

Section 27 Copies of notices and applications

All notices and applications to the Commission or to the Registrar shall be in writing and shall be sent by pre-paid post or delivered by hand and a copy thereof shall be served by the Registrar on the applicant or the Legal Officer, as the case may be.

Section 28 Rights of audience

The following persons only may address the Commission–

(a) an applicant other than a corporation;

(b) the Legal Officer;

(c) counsel retained by or on behalf of an applicant or the Legal Officer;

(d) a solicitor acting generally in the proceedings for an applicant (in this paragraph referred to as “a solicitor on the record”), any solicitor employed by a solicitor on the record, any solicitor engaged as an agent by a solicitor on the record, and any solicitor employed by a solicitor so engaged;

(e) in the case of an applicant other than a corporation, any person who satisfies the Commission that he is a relative or friend of the applicant he proposes to represent and that he has the authority of the applicant to represent him in that behalf;

(f) in the case of an applicant corporation, counsel or solicitor as aforesaid, or, if the Commission give leave, a director or the secretary.

Section 29 Determinations

(1) A determination of every property claim and personal injury claim not previously withdrawn shall be made by the Commission, and notice in writing thereof shall be given to every applicant and the Legal Officer. It shall not be necessary for the Commission to meet for the purpose of announcing their determination.

(2) Subject to the provisions of rules 30 and 31, all determinations of the Commission shall be final.

Section 30 Review

(1) The Commission may direct that a determination be reviewed if in their opinion the interests of justice so require.

(2) Before reviewing any determination, the Commission shall serve upon the applicant notice of intention to review.

(3) On review, the Commission may invite the applicant and the Legal Officer to submit additional written evidence or argument or to attend an oral hearing but subject as hereinafter provided neither the applicant nor the Legal Officer shall be entitled on review to have an oral hearing or to submit any additional evidence or argument.

(4) On review, an applicant shall be entitled to submit additional written evidence and argument if the Commission propose to disallow or reduce the amount of a claim and the Legal Officer shall be so entitled if the Commission propose to increase the amount of a claim or to allow a claim which has been disallowed.

(5) The Commission shall give the applicant and the Legal Officer notice of any such proposal as is referred to in paragraph (4) and any written evidence or argument shall be served upon the Commission before the expiration of 28 days from the service of the notice of such proposal.

(6) There shall not be more than one review of any determination.

(7) If it appears to the Commission that an applicant has died and no grant of representation to his estate has been produced to them, the Commission may review the determination of a claim made by the deceased applicant without serving any notice of intention to review or may, if they think fit, by order appoint such person as they think proper to represent the estate of the deceased applicant for the purpose of such review, and in that case the foregoing provisions of this rule shall apply to the person so appointed as they apply to an applicant and notice of intention to review shall be served upon that person.

(8) Where the Commission receive no acknowledgement within 28 days from the date of posting of the notice of intention to review, or within such further period as may be specified therein for replying thereto, the provisions of paragraph (7) of this rule shall apply as if the applicant had died.

Section 31 Revocation of determinations

Notwithstanding the provisions of rules 29 and 30, if it shall appear to the Commission that the determination by the Commission of any claim (whether such determination shall have been reviewed by the Commission or not) has been affected by any alteration of the provisions of the Order or as a result of any proceedings questioning the said determination under section 3 of the Foreign Compensation Act 1969 or otherwise, the Commission may revoke the said determination either wholly or in part and in lieu thereof or of the part revoked make a fresh determination. Any such revocation shall be made after giving reasonable prior notice thereof to the applicant and the Legal Officer and after consideration of any submission in writing or, subject to the leave of the Commission, any oral evidence or argument on behalf of either party.

Section 32 Composition of Commission

(1) Subject to the provisions of Article 11 of the Order and of this rule, any determination, order, direction or other act of the Commission may be made, given or done by a single Commissioner.

(2) Any review of a determination in accordance with the provisions of rules 30 and 31 shall be conducted by not less than two Commissioners.

Section 33 Selection of Commissioners

(1) The Chairman, or in his absence the next senior Commissioner, may select any Commissioners required to hear and determine any particular application or group of applications or any matter arising therein, or to conduct any review of a determination, and may from time to time vary the Commissioners selected, and where more than one Commissioner is required shall appoint the Commissioner who is to preside.

(2) If in the course of any hearing one or more of the Commissioners so appointed becomes unable to attend another Commissioner may, with the consent of the applicant, in like manner be appointed.

Section 34 Majority decision

In case of disagreement the opinion of the majority of the Commissioners hearing or determining an application or conducting the review of a determination shall prevail. If the opinions shall be equally divided the opinion of the presiding Commissioner shall prevail.

Section 35 Admissions by Legal Officer

In determining any application the Commission shall not be bound by any admission or concession by the Legal Officer on any question of fact or of law.

Section 36 Amendment of determinations, orders and directions

Clerical mistakes or errors in determinations, orders or directions, arising from any accidental slip or omission may at any time, without review, be corrected by the Commission of their own motion after giving notice to the applicant and the Legal Officer or on the application of the applicant or the Legal Officer after giving notice to the other of them.

Section 37 Non-compliance with Rules

Non-compliance with any of these Rules shall not render void any proceedings unless the Commission shall so direct.

Section 38 Transitional provisions

All applications made to the Commission and all directions given or orders made by the Commission in respect of such applications and all other steps taken by the applicant or the Commission in respect of such applications under the Foreign Compensation Commission Rules, 1956 shall be deemed to have been duly made, given or taken under these Rules.