The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007

National security

25.—(1) Rules of court may make provision for enabling a county court or sheriff court in which a claim is brought under regulation 20, where the court considers it expedient in the interests of national security—

(a) to exclude from all or part of the proceedings—

(i) the claimant,

(ii) the claimant’s representatives, or

(iii) any assessors,

(b) to permit a claimant or representative who has been excluded to make a statement to the court before the commencement of the proceedings, or the part of the proceedings, from which he is excluded;

(c) to take steps to keep secret all or part of the reasons for the court’s decision in the proceedings.

(2) The Attorney General or, in Scotland, the Advocate General for Scotland, may appoint a person to represent the interests of a claimant in, or in any part of, proceedings from which the claimant or his representatives are excluded by virtue of paragraph (1).

(3) A person may be appointed under paragraph (2) only—

(a) in relation to proceedings in England and Wales, if he has a general qualification (within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990(1)), or

(b) in relation to proceedings in Scotland, if he is—

(i) an advocate, or

(ii) qualified to practise as a solicitor in Scotland.

(4) A person appointed under paragraph (2) shall not be responsible to the person whose interests he is appointed to represent.

(1)

1990 c. 41.