reg 7 Procedure at meeting considering the allegation
(1) If the respondent does not appear the Committee shall call upon the Solicitor to produce evidence that notice has been given to the respondent in accordance with Rules 3(2)(a), (3) or (4) or 4(2) (as the case may be); and if the Committee is satisfied that it was so given, it may determine that proceedings on the allegation shall be heard and determined in the absence of the respondent. (2) At the opening of the hearing, the allegation shall be read out by the Solicitor. (3) The order of proceedings shall be as follows— (a) the Solicitor shall open the case for the allegation, and shall call or produce evidence in support of the allegation; (b) the respondent shall present his case and may call or produce evidence; and (c) the Committee shall hear such further submissions from the parties and receive such further evidence as it considers relevant, having regard to the justice of the case and the public interest (and to the requirements of subsection (9) of section 23 of the Act in respect of its exercise of its powers under subsection (2) of that section). (4) Any witness called to give oral evidence may be cross-examined and re-examined, and may be questioned by the Committee and (with the leave of the Committee) by the legal assessor and the medical assessors. (5) If it appears to the Committee that the particulars of an allegation as formulated by the Investigating Committee should be amended and that the amendment can be made without injustice, it may, after hearing the parties and consulting the legal assessor, amend the particulars to such extent as appears to the Committee to be necessary or desirable.