(1) The opposite party may, and if so required by the Commissioner, shall, at or before the first hearing or within such time as the Commissioner may permit, file a written statement dealing with the claim raised in the application, and any such written statement shall form a part of the record.
(2) If the opposite party contests the claim, the Commissioner may, and, if no written statement has been filed, shall proceed to examine him upon the claim and shall reduce the result of examination to writing.
