11Procedure at hearings

11 Procedure at hearings

(1)  Subject to this section, a hearing must be held in public.

(2)  If –

(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)  If 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.