[blml] What constitutes a frivolous appeal?

[Nigel]

[Grattan Endicott]
+=+ The views of an appeals advisor, consultant or 'cuddly' 
(see OB 8A2),  should not be known to the AC. Indeed, 
there is no reason for an AC to know that any such advice 
has been made available to the appellant. 

[nige1]
Why ever not? I agree with Tim West-Meads that additional knowledge and expertise cannot be a handicap to an appeals committee. IMO, the committee should be free to reject the screener's views (just as they are free to reject the views of anybody else whom they consult) ... *except* that the committee should not have the power to punish the appellants for an appeal without merit if the "screener" deems it to have merit.

I like the Australian idea explained by Richard Hills: the penalty for a frivolous appeal is fairer if it is in terms of imps or vps or matchpoints rather than money.