259.Section 127 adds a new section 32(1)(n) to the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971. This gives the Court of Session the power to make rules to permit a lay representative, when appearing along with a party at a hearing in any type of civil case to make oral submissions to the sheriff on the party’s behalf. It also inserts new section 32A after section 32 of the 1971 Act, which defines the terms “lay representative” and provides that the new rules:
only apply if the party is not otherwise represented;
may specify conditions as to when the rules apply;
does not affect the operation of section 36(1) (procedure in summary causes) of the 1971 Act; and
are subject to any other enactment other than section 36(1) that makes special provision about lay representation in a particular type of case.