Having searched Mr G Oogle, it seems the "Benchbook" was withdrawn from the public domain in 2007 and, it appears, FOI requests have been unsuccessful. Can it really be (legally) correct that such a document can be put out of reach of the general public? And, what is there to be so afraid of in having the document in the public domain? Are various Public Offices and/or (some) Tribunals simply trying to avoid being (potentially) hoisted on their own petard? Or, is the document actually available with my ramblings merely propagating a somewhat speculative conspiracy theory?

I have managed to track down a copy as it stood in August 2006. Has anyone managed to obtain a later copy and, if so, would they be prepared to share, or offer a link?

Erm I dont think its available that early in the morning...

I would imagine a new one would have been done with the new tribunal rules.

the one i have is also the 2006 version which i also got from this site.

i found a link to someone saying it had been rewritten in march this year (which would make sense)

but it may be nothing more sinister than it's still being approved and so not yet available.... (cough)

Found this, but as others have observed it is the 2006 version

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2813225/Tribunal-Service-Bench-Book

Hi all,
I too went on a hunt for the Benchbook with no joy, however I have got the new Tribunal Practice and Procedure book coming as a Christmas pressie it is £40 and written by Edward Jacobs, published by Legal Action Group.

Thanks for the responses. So, it's a choice of:

1) obtain the Benchbook by, um, covert means; or
2) shell out for Judge Jacobs book (a Christmas pressie???); or
3) both of the above.

Or throw 'em an FOI request...

According to "net traffic" found during my google searches, FOI requests have failed. The Benchbook, apparently, is regarded as a "judicial document" and isn't held (supposedly) by the Ministry of Justice or any other public body.