(1) In holding the conference and preparing the joint report, the experts—(a) must exercise independent judgement; and(b) must endeavour to reach an agreement on any matter on which they disagree; and(c) must not act on any instruction or request to withhold or avoid reaching an agreement.
(2) Unless the court directs otherwise, the experts must—(a) hold the conference in the absence of the parties or their agents; and(b) prepare the joint report without reference to, or instructions from, the parties or their agents.
(3) The experts must give the joint report to the parties—(a) if the court has given a direction about the period within which the report is to be given—as directed by the court; or(b) otherwise—as soon as practicable after the conference has concluded.
(4) This rule is subject to rule 429B .