210 – Time to pay directions and time to pay orders
748.Section 210 amends the 1987 Act so that the court is under a duty to grant a time to pay direction or a time to pay order if it is satisfied that it is reasonable in all circumstances, having regard to certain factors. It does so by amending sections 1 (time to pay directions) and 5 (time to pay orders) of the 1987 Act to assist the judiciary in deciding whether or not to grant an application for a time to pay direction or a time to pay order. It requires them to take certain factors into account before deciding on the application. These factors are listed in new sections 1(1A)(a) to (e) and 5(2A)(a) to (e) of the 1987 Act.
749.Section 210 should be read together with the amendments of sections 3 and 10 of the 1987 Act contained in paragraphs 16(3)(a) and (9)(a) of schedule 5 to this Act, which are consequential on (for example) the new diligence of land attachment.
750.Section 3 of the 1987 Act allows a debtor or a creditor to apply to the court which made a time to pay direction for variation or recall of the direction or for the recall or restriction of certain listed diligences. Section 3(1)(a), as amended, will have the effect of requiring the court to consider the reasonableness of the application in the light of all the circumstances.
751.Section 10 of the 1987 Act makes similar provision to section 3 but for time to pay orders. Section 10(1)(a), as amended, will have the effect of requiring the sheriff to consider the reasonableness of the application to vary or recall the time to pay order in the light of all the circumstances.
