The Rules of the Supreme Court (Amendment No. 2) 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Rules of the Supreme Court so as to—

(a) require statements of value to be given in actions for personal injuries (rules 2to 4);

(b) provided that, where statements of value are not supplied after an Order 14 hearing or at the hearing of the summons for directions, the proceedings shall be transferred to a county court (rules 5 and 6);

(c) amend the provisions relating to the documents to be lodged and provide that where a party is in default of an obligation to put in a statement of value, he need not be given an opportunity to be heard before the proceedings are transferred to a county court (rule 7);

(d) make new arrangements for trial by requiring the provision of a court bundle and allowing opening speeches to be dispensed with in non-jury trials (rules 8 to 14);

(e) allow writs of execution to be issued from Chancery Chambers (rule 16);

(f) allow various matters which are normally taken by the Divisional Court to be dealt with in vacation, if sufficiently urgent, by a single judge (rule 17);

(g) apply the provisions as to payment for transcripts to transcripts for appeals from county courts and amend a statutory reference following the enactment of the Legal Aid Act 1988 (c. 34) (rules 18 and 19);

(h) amend certain statutory references following the enactment of the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26) (rule 20).