(1) Schedule 2 to the principal regulations (conduct and procedure in relation to appeals and applications) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.
(2) In paragraph 8 (oral hearings) the words “or give such directions with a view to the determination of the case as they think fit” shall be added at the end.
(3) In paragraph 13(1)(a) (oral hearings) after the words “the President of the Social Security Appeal Tribunals” there shall be added the words “and any regional or full-time chairman of appeal tribunals appointed under paragraph 1A of Schedule 10 to the 1975 Act ”.
(4) In paragraph 24 (written observations in reply) for “24” there shall be substituted “23”.
(5) In paragraph 25 (directions)–
(a) in sub-paragraph (3) for “(2)” there shall be substituted “(1)”; and
(b) after sub-paragraph (3) there shall be added the following paragraph–
(4) An application under sub-paragraph (1) shall be made to a Commissioner in writing and shall set out the direction which the applicant is seeking to have made and the grounds for the application.
(6) In paragraph 27(3) (oral hearings)–
(a) in head (a) for the words “application, appeal or reference” there shall be substituted the words “application or appeal”;
(b) in head (c) the word “or” shall be omitted; and
(c) after head (c) shall be added the following paragraph–
(cc) a representative of a trade union, employers' association or other association which exists to promote the interests and welfare of its members; or
(7) After paragraph 28 (summoning of witnesses) shall be inserted the following paragraph–
Postponement and adjournment
(28A) A Commissioner may of his own motion postpone an oral hearing or adjourn it at any time once it has begun.
(8) In paragraph 32 (general powers of a Commissioner)–
(a) in sub-paragraph (a) the word “or” shall be omitted; and
(b) after sub-paragraph (a) shall be added the following paragraph–
(aa) except where regulation 10(3) applies, extend the time specified in these Regulations for doing any act, notwithstanding that the time specified may have expired; or
(9) In paragraph 33 (delegation of functions to nominated officers) in head (c) the words “and setting aside any witness summons made by a nominated officer” shall be added at the end.