Part 3Inquiries

Proofs of evidence

20.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person entitled to appear at an inquiry who proposes to give, or to call another person to give, evidence at the inquiry by reading a proof of evidence must send a copy of that proof of evidence, and any written summary, to—

(a)the Secretary of State, and

(b)all persons listed in rule 13(1).

(2) Where the proof of evidence includes or refers to closed evidence, only the open proof and open summary may be sent to the persons mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(3) A written summary is not required to be sent where the proof of evidence proposed to be read contains no more than 1500 words.

(4) The proof of evidence and any written summary sent in accordance with this rule must be received by the persons mentioned in paragraph (1) no later than—

(a)4 weeks before the date fixed for holding of the inquiry, or

(b)where a timetable has been prepared in accordance with rule 16, the date specified in that timetable for the proof of evidence and any summary to be received by the persons mentioned in paragraph (1).

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), the Secretary of State must, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of a proof of evidence, publish the proof of evidence and any summary on a website.

(6) Where the proof of evidence includes or refers to closed evidence, only the open proof and open summary may be published on the website.

(7) The Secretary of State must send to the inspector and any appointed representative, as soon as practicable after receipt, any proof of evidence together with any summary received by him within the applicable time period.

(8) Where a written summary is provided in accordance with paragraph (1), only that summary (or open summary, if applicable) may be read at the inquiry, unless the inspector permits or requires otherwise.

(9) Subject to paragraph (10), the Secretary of State must afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where practicable, take copies of any proof of evidence or written summary that has been sent to the Secretary of State in accordance with this rule.

(10) The Secretary of State must only allow the inspection of an open proof and an open summary.

(11) For the purposes of paragraph (9) an opportunity is taken to have been afforded to a person where the person is notified of—

(a)publication on a website of the document mentioned in that paragraph,

(b)the address of the website, and

(c)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.

(12) In this rule, “open proof” means such part of any proof of evidence (if any) which does not contain or refer to closed evidence, and “open summary” means a written summary of the open proof.