Ms Joan Gordon:

Earlier it was said that appeals officers are required to get permission to have an oral hearing. I can confirm that is not the case.

Appeals officers are asked to consult with their line manager in all cases where they consider whether an oral hearing is going to happen as to how it is going to happen and whether it will be in person or online. The discretion to grant an oral hearing or to decide an appeal on a summary basis is, from the legislation, at the discretion of the appeals officer. The consultation or discussion that is envisaged is purely to do with management and oversight. Things have changed since Covid and since we resumed normal business. We want to collect information on the circumstances that might give rise to an oral hearing, be it in person or online. That is purely a management oversight role, which I do not think anyone has a difficulty with.