Act of Sederunt (Ordinary Cause, Summary Application, Summary Cause and Small Claim Rules) Amendment (Miscellaneous) 2007

Amendment of Small Claim Rules

5.  The Act of Sederunt (Small Claim Rules) 2002(1) shall be amended as follows:–

(a)in rule 1.1(2) (interpretation), after the definition of “authorised lay representative” there shall be inserted the following:–

““enactment” includes an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament;”.

(b)in rule 2.1 (representation)–

(i)for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted the following:–

“(1) A party may be represented by–

(a)an advocate;

(b)a solicitor;

(c)a person authorised under any enactment to conduct proceedings in the sheriff court, in accordance with the terms of that enactment; and

(d)subject to paragraph (3), an authorised lay representative.”; and

(ii)in paragraph (2), for “An authorised lay representative” there shall be substituted “The persons referred to in paragraph (1)(c) and (d) above”;

(c)in rule 21.6(3) (expenses), in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c)(i), after “representative” there shall be inserted “or a person authorised under any enactment to conduct proceedings in the sheriff court”;

(d)in rule 22.1(8) (recall of decree: hearing), for “the Hearing held in terms of rule 9.1(2)” there shall be substituted “a Hearing under rules 9.1(4) to (8) and 9.2”;

(e)after Chapter 26 (equality enactments)(2) there shall be inserted the following:–

“Chapter 27LIVE LINKS

27.1.—(1) On cause shown, a party may apply by incidental application for authority for the whole or part of–

(a)the evidence of a witness or the party to be given; or

(b)a submission to be made,

through a live link.

(2) in paragraph (1)–

“witness” means a person who has been or may be cited to appear before the court as a witness;

“submission” means any oral submission which would otherwise be made to the court by the party or his representative in person including an oral submission in support of an incidental application; and

“live link” means a live television link or such other arrangement as may be specified in the incidental application by which the witness, party or representative, as the case may be, is able to be seen and heard in the proceedings or heard in the proceedings and is able to see and hear or hear the proceedings while at a place which is outside the courtroom.”.