Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (repealed)

Distribution of debtor’s estate S

51 Order of priority in distribution. S

(1) The funds of the debtor’s estate shall be distributed by the F1 . . . trustee to meet the following debts in the order in which they are mentioned—

(a) the outlays and remuneration of the interim trustee in the administration of the debtor’s estate;

(b) the outlays and remuneration of the F1 . . . trustee in the administration of the debtor’s estate;

(c) where the debtor is a deceased debtor, deathbed and funeral expenses reasonably incurred and expenses reasonably incurred in administering the deceased’s estate;

(d) the expenses reasonably incurred by a creditor who is a petitioner, or concurs in [F2 a debtor application], for sequestration;

[F3 (e) ordinary preferred debts (excluding any interest which has accrued thereon to the date of sequestration);

(ea) secondary preferred debts (excluding any interest which has accrued thereon to the date of sequestration);]

(f) ordinary debts, that is to say a debt which is neither a secured debt nor a debt mentioned in any other paragraph of this subsection;

(g) interest at the rate specified in subsection (7) below on—

(i) the [F4 ordinary] preferred debts;

[F5 (ia) the secondary preferred debts;]

(ii) the ordinary debts,

between the date of sequestration and the date of payment of the debt;

(h) any postponed debt.

[F6 (2) In this Act—

(a) “preferred debt” means a debt listed in Part I of Schedule 3 to this Act,

(b) “ordinary preferred debt” means a debt within any of paragraphs 4 to 6B of Part I of Schedule 3 to this Act,

(c) “secondary preferred debt” means a debt within paragraph 6C or 6D of Part 1 of Schedule 3 to this Act, and

Part II of that Schedule shall have effect for the interpretation of Part I.]

(3) In this Act “postponed debt” means—

(a) a loan made to the debtor, in consideration of a share of the profits in his business, which is postponed under section 3 of the M1 Partnership Act 1890 to the claims of other creditors;

(b) a loan made to the debtor by the debtor’s spouse [F7 or civil partner] ;

(c) a creditor’s right to anything vesting in the F1 . . . trustee by virtue of a successful challenge under section 34 of this Act or to the proceeds of sale of such a thing.

(4) Any debt falling within any of paragraphs (c) to (h) of subsection (1) above shall have the same priority as any other debt falling within the same paragraph and, where the funds of the estate are inadequate to enable the debts mentioned in the paragraph to be paid in full, they shall abate in equal proportions.

(5) Any surplus remaining, after all the debts mentioned in this section have been paid in full, shall be made over to the debtor or to his successors or assignees; and in this subsection “surplus” includes any kind of estate but does not include any unclaimed dividend.

[F8 (5A) Subsection (5) above is subject to Article 35 of the EC Regulation (surplus in secondary proceedings to be transferred to main proceedings).]

(6) Nothing in this section shall affect—

(a) the right of a secured creditor which is preferable to the rights of the F1 . . . trustee; or

(b) any preference of the holder of a lien over a title deed or other document which has been delivered to the F1 . . . trustee in accordance with a requirement under section 38(4) of this Act.

(7) The rate of interest referred to in paragraph (g) of subsection (1) above shall be whichever is the greater of—

(a) the prescribed rate at the date of sequestration; and

(b) the rate applicable to that debt apart from the sequestration.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 51 repealed (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 226, 227(3), Sch. 6 Pt. 1 (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(2)(3), Sch. 2 (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F2 Words in s. 51(1)(d) substituted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 43 (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F3 S. 51(1)(e)(ea) substituted for s. 51(1)(e) (1.1.2015) by The Banks and Building Societies (Depositor Preference and Priorities) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3486), arts. 1(2), 28(2)(a)(i) (with art. 3)

F4 Word in s. 51(1)(g)(i) inserted (1.1.2015) by The Banks and Building Societies (Depositor Preference and Priorities) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3486), arts. 1(2), 28(2)(a)(ii) (with art. 3)

F5 S. 51(1)(g)(ia) inserted (1.1.2015) by The Banks and Building Societies (Depositor Preference and Priorities) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3486), arts. 1(2), 28(2)(a)(iii) (with art. 3)

F6 S. 51(2) substituted (1.1.2015) by The Banks and Building Societies (Depositor Preference and Priorities) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3486), arts. 1(2), 28(2)(b) (with art. 3)

F7 Words in s. 51(3)(b) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(2), 263, Sch. 28 para. 39; S.S.I. 2005/604 {art. 2(c)}

F8 S. 51(5A) inserted (8.9.2003) by The Insolvency (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2109), reg. 14

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 51 applied (11.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/2979, reg. 14(5)(b)

C2 S. 51(1)(d)-(h) excluded (10.8.2005) by The Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding up) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/353), reg. 20 (as amended by The Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding up) (Lloyd's) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1998), reg. 40(1)-(5))

Marginal Citations

M1 1890 c. 39.

52 Estate to be distributed in respect of accounting periods. S

F9 [(1) The F10 . . . trustee shall make up accounts of his intromissions with the debtor’s estate in respect of each accounting period.

(2) In this Act “accounting period” shall be construed as follows—

(a) [F11 subject to subsection (2ZA) below,] the first accounting period shall be the period of [F12 12] months beginning with the date [F13 on which sequestration is awarded]; and

(b) any subsequent accounting period shall be the period of [F12 12] months beginning with the end of the last accounting period; except that—

(i) in a case where the Accountant in Bankruptcy is not the F10 . . . trustee, the F10 . . . trustee and the commissioners or, if there are no commissioners, the Accountant in Bankruptcy agree; or

(ii) in a case where the Accountant in Bankruptcy is the F10 . . . trustee, he determines,

that the accounting period shall be such other period beginning with the end of the last accounting period as may be agreed or, as the case may be determined, it shall be that other period.

[F14 (2ZA) Where the trustee was appointed under section 2(5) of this Act as interim trustee in the sequestration, the first accounting period shall be the period beginning with the date of his appointment as interim trustee and ending on the date 12 months after the date on which sequestration is awarded.]

(2A) An agreement or determination under subsection (2)(b)(i) or (ii) above—

(a) may be made in respect of one or more than one accounting period;

(b) may be made before the beginning of the accounting period in relation to which it has effect and, in any event, shall not have effect unless made before the day on which such accounting period would, but for the agreement or determination, have ended;

(c) may provide for different accounting periods to be of different durations,

and shall be recorded in the sederunt book by the F10 . . . trustee.]

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the F10 . . . trustee shall, if the funds of the debtor’s estate are sufficient and after making allowance for future contingencies, pay under section 53(7) of this Act a dividend out of the estate to the creditors in respect of each accounting period.

(4) The F10 . . . trustee may pay—

(a) the debts mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (d) of section 51 of this Act, other than his own remuneration, at any time;

(b) the preferred debts at any time but only with the consent of the commissioners or, if there are no commissioners, of the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

(5) If the F10 . . . trustee—

(a) is not ready to pay a dividend in respect of an accounting period; or

(b) considers it would be inappropriate to pay such a dividend because the expense of doing so would be disproportionate to the amount of the dividend,

he may, with the consent of the commissioners, or if there are no commissioners of the Accountant in Bankruptcy, postpone such payment to a date not later than the time for payment of a dividend in respect of the next accounting period.

F15 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) Where an appeal is taken under section 49(6)(b) of this Act against the acceptance or rejection of a creditor’s claim, the F10 . . . trustee shall, at the time of payment of dividends and until the appeal is determined, set aside an amount which would be sufficient, if the determination in the appeal were to provide for the claim being accepted in full, to pay a dividend in respect of that claim.

(8) Where a creditor—

(a) has failed to produce evidence in support of his claim earlier than 8 weeks before the end of an accounting period on being required by the F10 . . . trustee to do so under section 48(5) of this Act; and

(b) has given a reason for such failure which is acceptable to the F10 . . . trustee,

the F10 . . . trustee shall set aside, for such time as is reasonable to enable him to produce that evidence or any other evidence that will enable the F10 . . . trustee to be satisfied under the said section 48(5), an amount which would be sufficient, if the claim were accepted in full, to pay a dividend in respect of that claim.

(9) Where a creditor submits a claim to the F10 . . . trustee later than 8 weeks before the end of an accounting period but more than 8 weeks before the end of a subsequent accounting period in respect of which, after making allowance for contingencies, funds are available for the payment of a dividend, the F10 . . . trustee shall, if he accepts the claim in whole or in part, pay to the creditor—

(a) the same dividend or dividends as has or have already been paid to creditors of the same class in respect of any accounting period or periods; and

(b) whatever dividend may be payable to him in respect of the said subsequent accounting period:

Provided that paragraph (a) above shall be without prejudice to any dividend which has already been paid.

[F16 (10) In the declaration of and payment of a dividend, no payments shall be made more than once by virtue of the same debt.

(11) Any dividend paid in respect of a claim should be paid to the creditor.]

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 52(1)(2)(2A) substituted for s. 52(1)(2) (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4,5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para.21 (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3

F10 Words in s. 52 repealed (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 226, 227(3), Sch. 6 Pt. 1 (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(2)(3), Sch. 2 (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F11 Words in s. 52(2)(a) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 44(2)(b)(i) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(a)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10) (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5)

F12 Words in s. 52(2) substituted (1.4.2008 for specified purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 44(2)(a) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F13 Words in s. 52(2)(a) substituted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 44(2)(b)(ii) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F14 S. 52(2ZA) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 44(3) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F15 S. 52(6) repealed (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4,5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(4), Sch.2 (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3

F16 S. 52(10)(11) inserted (8.9.2003) by The Insolvency (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2109), reg. 15

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 52 applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/1915, Rule 4.68 and by Rule 2.41(2) (as substituted (15.9.2003) by S.I. 2003/2111, rule 3, {Sch. 1Pt. 1})

C4 S. 52 applied (with modifications) (14.11.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration (Scotland) Rules 2011 (S. I. 2011/2262), rules 127(2), 132

53 Procedure after end of accounting period. S

(1) Within 2 weeks after the end of an accounting period, the F17 . . . trustee shall in respect of that period submit to the commissioners or, if there are no commissioners, to the Accountant in Bankruptcy—

(a) his accounts of his intromissions with the debtor’s estate for audit and, where funds are available after making allowance for contingencies, a scheme of division of the divisible funds; and

(b) a claim for the outlays reasonably incurred by him and for his remuneration;

and, where the said documents are submitted to the commissioners, he shall send a copy of them to the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

[F18 (2) Subject to subsection (2A) below, all accounts in respect of legal services incurred by the F17 . . . trustee shall, before payment thereof by him, be submitted for taxation to the auditor of the court before which the sequestration is pending.

(2A) Where—

(a) any such account has been agreed between the F17 . . . trustee and the person entitled to payment in respect of that account (in this subsection referred to as “the payee”);

(b) the F17 . . . trustee is not an associate of the payee; and

(c) the commissioners [F19 or, if there are no commissioners, the Accountant in Bankruptcy, have determined that the account need not] be submitted for taxation,

the F17 . . . trustee may pay such account without submitting it for taxation.]

(3) Within 6 weeks after the end of an accounting period—

(a) the commissioners or, as the case may be, the Accountant in Bankruptcy F20 . . .—

(i) [F21 may] audit the accounts; and

(ii) [F21 shall] issue a determination fixing the amount of the outlays and the remuneration payable to the F17 . . . trustee; and

(b) the F17 . . . trustee shall make the audited accounts, scheme of division and the said determination available for inspection by the debtor and the creditors.

(4) The basis for fixing the amount of the remuneration payable to the F17 . . . trustee may be a commission calculated by reference to the value of the debtor’s estate which has been realised by the F17 . . . trustee, but there shall in any event be taken into account—

(a) the work which, having regard to that value, was reasonably undertaken by him; and

(b) the extent of his responsibilities in administering the debtor’s estate.

(5) If fixing the amount of such remuneration in respect of [F22 any] accounting period, the commissioners or, as the case may be, the Accountant in Bankruptcy may take into account any adjustment which the commissioners or the Accountant in Bankruptcy may wish to make in the amount of the remuneration fixed in respect of any earlier accounting period.

(6) Not later than 8 weeks after the end of an accounting period, the F17 . . . trustee, the debtor [F23 (subject to subsection (6A) below)] or any creditor may appeal against a determination issued under subsection (3)(a)(ii) above—

(a) where it is a determination of the commissioners, to the Accountant in Bankruptcy; and

(b) where it is a determination of the Accountant in Bankruptcy, to the sheriff;

and the determination of the Accountant in Bankruptcy under paragraph (a) above shall be appealable to the sheriff [F24 ; and the decision of the sheriff on such an appeal shall be final.]

[F25 (6A) A debtor may appeal under subsection (6) above if, and only if, he satisfies the Accountant in Bankruptcy or, as the case may be, the sheriff that he has, or is likely to have, a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the appeal.]

[F26 (6B) Before—

(a) a debtor; or

(b) a creditor,

appeals under subsection (6) above, he must give notice to the trustee of his intention to appeal.]

(7) On the expiry of the period within which an appeal may be taken under subsection (6) above or, if an appeal is so taken, on the final determination of the last such appeal, the F17 . . . trustee shall pay to the creditors their dividends in accordance with the scheme of division.

(8) Any dividend—

(a) allocated to a creditor which is not cashed or uplifted; or

(b) dependent on a claim in respect of which an amount has been set aside under subsection (7) or (8) of section 52 of this Act,

shall be deposited by the F17 . . . trustee in an appropriate bank or institution.

(9) If a creditor’s claim is revalued, the F17 . . . trustee may—

(a) in paying any dividend to that creditor, make such adjustment to it as he considers necessary to take account of that revaluation; or

(b) require the creditor to repay to him the whole or part of a dividend already paid to him.

(10) The F17 . . . trustee shall insert in the sederunt book the audited accounts, the scheme of division and the final determination in relation to the F17 . . . trustee’s outlays and remuneration.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in s. 53 repealed (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 226, 227(3), Sch. 6 Pt. 1 (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(2)(3), Sch. 2 (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F18 S. 53(2)(2A) substituted for s. 53(2) (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4,5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 22(2) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3

F19 Words in s. 53(2A)(c) substituted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 45(a) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F20 Word "shall" in s. 53(3)(a) repealed (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4,5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(4), Sch.2 (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3

F21 Words in s. 53(a)(i)(ii) inserted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4,5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 22(3) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3

F22 Words in s. 53(5) substituted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 22(4) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3

F23 Words in s. 53(6) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 31(2)(a), 227(3) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(a) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F24 Words at the end of s. 53(6) added (18.2.1993) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 22(5)

F25 S. 53(6A) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 31(2)(a), 227(3) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(a) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

F26 S. 53(6B) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 45(b) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 53 applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/1915, Rule 4.32.(1), 68 and by Rule 2.41(2)-(4) (as substituted (15.9.2003) by S.I. 2003/2111, Rule 3, Sch. 1 Pt. 1)

S. 53 modified (18.2.1993) by 1993 c. 6, s. 9(1)(2)

[F27 53A Modification of procedure under section 53 where Accountant in Bankruptcy is trustee S

(1) In any case where the Accountant in Bankruptcy is the trustee, section 53 of this Act shall have effect subject to the following modifications.

(2) For subsections (1) to (7) of that section, there shall be substituted—

“(1) At the end of each accounting period, the Accountant in Bankruptcy shall prepare accounts of his intromissions with the debtor's estate and he shall make a determination of his fees and outlays calculated in accordance with regulations made under section 69A of this Act.

(2) Such accounts and determination shall be available for inspection by the debtor and the creditors not later than 6 weeks after the end of the accounting period to which they relate.

(3) In making a determination as mentioned in subsection (1) above, the Accountant in Bankruptcy may take into account any adjustment which he may wish to make in the amount of his remuneration fixed in respect of any earlier accounting period.

(4) Not later than 8 weeks after the end of an accounting period, the debtor (subject to subsection (5) below) or any creditor may appeal to the sheriff against the determination of the Accountant in Bankruptcy; and the decision of the sheriff on such an appeal shall be final.

(5) A debtor may appeal under subsection (4) above if, and only if, he satisfies the sheriff that he has, or is likely to have, a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the appeal.

(6) Before—

(a) a debtor; or

(b) any creditor,

appeals under subsection (4) above, he must give notice to the Accountant in Bankruptcy of his intention to appeal.

(7) On the expiry of the period within which an appeal may be made under subsection (4) above, the Accountant in Bankruptcy shall pay to the creditors their dividends in accordance with the scheme of division.”.

(3) In subsection (10) for the words “the audited” there shall be substituted the word “ his ”.]

Textual Amendments

F27 S. 53A inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 36, 227(3), Sch. 1 para. 46 (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(i) (with arts. 4-6, 10 (as amended (with effect from 31.1.2011) by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5))