2. Sections 124, 264 and 272 are modified so as to read as follows—
“124.—(1) An application to the court by a member of an insolvent partnership by virtue of article 10 of the Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994 for the winding up of the partnership as an unregistered company and the winding up or bankruptcy (as the case may be) of all its members shall—
(a)in the case of the partnership, be by petition in Form 11 in Schedule 9 to that Order,
(b)in the case of a corporate member, be by petition in Form 12 in that Schedule, and
(c)in the case of an individual member, be by petition in Form 13 in that Schedule
(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, a petition under subsection (1)(a) may only be presented by a member of the partnership on the grounds that the partnership is unable to pay its debts and if—
(a)petitions are at the same time presented by that member for insolvency orders against every member of the partnership (including himself or itself); and
(b)each member is willing for an insolvency order to be made against him or it and the petition against him or it contains a statement to this effect.
(3) If the court is satisfied, on application by any member of an insolvent partnership that presentation of petitions under subsection (1) against the partnership and every member of it would be impracticable, the court may direct that petitions be presented against the partnership and such member or members of it as are specified by the court.
(4) The petitions mentioned in subsection (1)—
(a)shall all be presented to the same court and, except as the court otherwise permits or directs, on the same day, and
(b)except in the case of the petition mentioned in subsection (1)(c) shall be advertised in Form 8 in the said Schedule 9.
(5) Each petition presented under this section shall contain particulars of the other petitions being presented in relation to the partnership, identifying the partnership and members concerned.
(6) The hearing of the petition against the partnership fixed by the court shall be in advance of the hearing of the petitions against the insolvent members.
(7) On the day appointed for the hearing of the petition against the partnership, the petitioner shall, before the commencement of the hearing, hand to the court Form 9 in Schedule 9 to the Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994, duly completed.
(8) Any person against whom a winding-up or bankruptcy petition has been presented in relation to the insolvent partnership is entitled to appear and to be heard on any petition for the winding up of the partnership.
(9) A petitioner under this section may at the hearing withdraw the petition if—
(a)subject to subsection (10) below, he withdraws at the same time every other petition which he has presented under this section; and
(b)he gives notice to the court at least 3 days before the date appointed for the hearing of the relevant petition of his intention to withdraw the petition.
(10) A petitioner need not comply with the provisions of subsection (9)(a) in the case of a petition against a member, if the court is satisfied on application made to it by the petitioner that, because of difficulties in serving the petition or for any other reason, the continuance of that petition would be likely to prejudice or delay the proceedings on the petition which he has presented against the partnership or on any petition which he has presented against any other insolvent member.”.