Exercise of jurisdiction and ancillary jurisdictionE+W
37 Persons who may exercise jurisdiction of court.E+W
(1)Any jurisdiction and powers conferred by this or any other Act—
(a)on a county court; or
(b)on the judge of a county court,
may be exercised by any judge of the court.
(2)Subsection (1) applies to jurisdiction and powers conferred on all county courts or judges of county courts or on any particular county court or the judge of any particular county court.
38 General ancillary jurisdiction.E+W
(1)Every county court, as regards any cause of action for the time being within its jurisdiction,—
(a)shall grant such relief, redress or remedy or combination of remedies, either absolute or conditional; and
(b)shall give such and the like effect to every ground of defence or counterclaim equitable or legal,
as ought to be granted or given in the like case by the High Court and in as full and ample a manner.
(2)For the purposes of this section it shall be assumed (notwithstanding any enactment to the contrary) that any proceedings which can be commenced in a county court could be commenced in the High Court.
39 Ancillary powers of judge.E+W
A judge shall have jurisdiction in any pending proceedings to make any order or exercise any authority or jurisdiction which, if it related to an action or proceeding pending in the High court, might be made or exercised by a judge of the High Court in chambers.