29Procedure at hearings

29 Procedure at hearings

(1) Subject to this section, a hearing shall be held in public. (2) Where: (a) a person appearing to give evidence at a hearing objects to doing so in public; and (b) the Commission considers: (i) that the evidence is of a confidential nature; and (ii) the interest in confidentiality is greater than the interest in having the evidence taken in public; the Commission may take the evidence in private. (3) Where the Commission considers: (a) that evidence to be given at a hearing is of a confidential nature even though the person appearing to give the evidence has not objected to doing so in public; and (b) the interest in confidentiality is greater than the interest in having the evidence taken in public; the Commission may take the evidence in private. (4) The Commission may, if it thinks fit, permit or require a person who is to give evidence to the Commission to do so in writing. (5) The Commission may, at a hearing, take evidence on oath or affirmation.