County Courts Act 1984

Part III E+W Procedure

PartiesE+W

46 Proceedings by the CrownE+W

(1)Subject to the provisions of any enactment limiting the jurisdiction of a county court, whether by reference to the subject matter of the proceedings to be brought or the amount sought to be recovered in the proceedings or otherwise, proceedings by the Crown may be instituted in a county court.

(2)Subject to section 40(5), all rules of law and enactments regulating the removal or transfer of proceedings from a county court to the High Court and the transfer of proceedings in the High Court to a county court shall apply respectively to the removal or transfer of proceedings by the Crown in a county court and to the transfer of proceedings by the Crown in the High Court.

(3)Nothing in this section shall apply to proceedings affecting Her Majesty in Her private capacity.

47 Minors.E+W

A minor may prosecute any action in a county court for any sum of money not exceeding the county court limit which may be due to him for wages or piece work, or for work as a servant, in the same manner as if he were of full age.

48 Persons jointly liable.E+W

(1)Where a plaintiff has a demand recoverable under this Act against two or more persons jointly liable, it shall be sufficient to serve any of those persons with process, and judgment may be obtained and execution issued against any person so served, notwithstanding that others jointly liable may not have been served or sued or may not be within the jurisdiction of the court.

(2)Where judgment is so obtained against any person by virtue of subsection (1) and is satisfied by that person, he shall be entitled to recover in the court contribution from any other person jointly liable with him.

49 Bankruptcy of plaintiff.E+W

(1)The bankruptcy of the plaintiff in any action in a county court which the trustee might maintain for the benefit of the creditors shall not cause the action to abate if, within such reasonable time as the court orders, the trustee elects to continue the action and to give security for the costs of the action.

(2)The hearing of the action may be adjourned until such an election is made.

(3)Where the trustee does not elect to continue the action and to give such security as is mentioned in subsection (1) within the time limited by the order, the defendant may avail himself of the bankruptcy as a defence to the action.

Interim payments in pending proceedingsE+W

50 Orders for interim payment.E+W

(1)Provision may be made by county court rules for enabling the court, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to make an order requiring a party to the proceedings to make an interim payment of such amount as may be specified in the order, with provision for the payment to be made to such other party to the proceedings as may be so specified or, if the order so provides, by paying it into court.

(2)Any county court rules which make provision in accordance with subsection (1) may include provision for enabling a party to any proceedings who, in pursuance of such an order, has made an interim payment to recover the whole or part of the amount of the payment in such circumstances, and from such other party to the proceedings, as may be determined in accordance with the rules.

(3)Any rules made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the rule committee may consider necessary or expedient.

(4)Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the exercise of any power relating to costs, including any power to make county court rules relating to costs.

(5)In this section “interim payment”, in relation to a party to any proceedings, means a payment on account of any damages, debt or other sum (excluding any costs) which that party may be held liable to pay to or for the benefit of another party to the proceedings if a final judgment or order of the court in the proceedings is given or made in favour of that other party; and any reference to a party to any proceedings includes a reference to any person who for the purposes of the proceedings acts as next friend or guardian of a party to the proceedings.

Provisional damages for personal injuriesE+W

51 Orders for provisional damages for personal injuries.E+W

(1)This section applies to an action for damages for personal injuries in which there is proved or admitted to be a chance that at some definite or indefinite time in the future the injured person will, as a result of the act or omission which gave rise to the cause of action, develop some serious disease or suffer some serious deterioration in his physical or mental condition.

(2)Subject to subsection (4), as regards any action for damages to which this section applies in which a judgment is given in the county court, provision may be made by county court rules for enabling the court, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to award the injured person—

(a)damages assessed on the assumption that the injured person will not develop the disease or suffer the deterioration in his condition; and

(b)further damages at a future date if he develops the disease or suffers the deterioration.

(3)Any rules made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the rule committee may consider necessary or expedient.

(4)Nothing in this section shall be construed—

(a)as affecting the exercise of any power relating to costs, including any power to make county court rules relating to costs; or

(b)as prejudicing any duty of the court under any enactment or rule of law to reduce or limit the total damages which would have been recoverable apart from any such duty.

(5)In this section “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.

Discovery and related proceduresE+W

52 Powers of court exercisable before commencement of action.E+W

(1)On the application of any person in accordance with county court rules, a county court shall, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, have power to make an order providing for any one or more of the following matters, that is to say—

(a)the inspection, photographing, preservation, custody and detention of property which appears to the court to be property which may become the subject-matter of subsequent proceedings in the court, or as to which any question may arise in any such proceedings; and

(b)the taking of samples of any such property as is mentioned in paragraph (a), and the carrying out of any experiment on or with any such property.

(2)On the application, in accordance with county court rules, of a person who appears to a county court to be likely to be a party to subsequent proceedings in that court in which a claim in respect of personal injuries to a person, or in respect of a person’s death, is likely to be made, the county court shall, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, have power to order a person who appears to the court to be likely to be a party to the proceedings and to be likely to have or to have had in his possession, custody or power any documents which are relevant to an issue arising or likely to arise out of that claim—

(a)to disclose whether those documents are in his possession, custody or power; and

(b)to produce such of those documents as are in his possession, custody or power to the applicant or, on such conditions as may be specified in the order,—

(i)to the applicant’s legal advisers; or

(ii)to the applicant’s legal advisers and any medical or other professional adviser of the applicant; or

(iii)if the applicant has no legal adviser, to any medical or other professional adviser of the applicant.

[F1(3)This section is subject to any provision made under section 38,]

53 Power of court to order disclosure of documents, inspection of property etc. in proceedings for personal injuries or death.E+W

(1)This section applies to any proceedings in a county court in which a claim is made in respect of personal injuries to a person, or in respect of a person’s death.

(2)On the application, in accordance with county court rules, of a party to any proceedings to which this section applies, a county court shall, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, have power to order a person who is not a party to the proceedings and who appears to the court to be likely to have in his possession, custody or power any documents which are relevant to an issue arising out of the said claim—

(a)to disclose whether those documents are in his possession, custody or power; and

(b)to produce such of those documents as are in his possession, custody or power to the applicant or, on such conditions as may be specified in the order,—

(i)to the applicant’s legal advisers; or

(ii)to the applicant’s legal advisers and any medical or other professional adviser of the applicant; or

(iii)if the applicant has no legal adviser, to any medical or other professional adviser of the applicant.

(3)On the application, in accordance with county court rules, of a party to any proceedings to which this section applies, a county court shall, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, have power to make an order providing for any one or more of the following matters, that is to say—

(a)the inspection, photographing, preservation, custody and detention of property which is not the propery of, or in the possession of, any party to the proceedings but which is the subject-matter of the proceedings or as to which any question arises in the proceedings;

(b)the taking of samples of any such property as is mentioned in paragraph (a) and the carrying out of any experiment on or with any such property.

(4)The preceding provisions of this section are without prejudice to the exercise by a county court of any power to make orders which is exercisable apart from those provisions.

[F2(5)This section is subject to any provision made under section 38,]

54 Provisions supplementary to sections 52 and 53.E+W

(1)A county court shall not make an order under section 52 or 53 if it considers that compliance with the order, if made, would be likely to be injurious to the public interest.

(2)County court rules may make provision as to the circumstances in which an order under section 52 or 53 can be made; and any rules making such provision may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the rule committee may consider necessary or expedient.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), county court rules shall be made for the purpose of ensuring that the costs of and incidental to proceedings for an order under section 52(2) or 53 incurred by the person against whom the order is sought shall be awarded to that person unless the court otherwise directs.

(4)Sections 52(2) and 53 and this section bind the Crown; and section 52(1) binds the Crown so far as it relates to property as to which it appears to the court that it may become the subject-matter of subsequent proceedings involving a claim in respect of personal injuries to a person or in respect of a person’s death.

(5)In sections 52 and 53 and this section—

• “property” includes any land, chattel or other corporeal property of any description;

• “personal injuries”includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.

[F3(6)This section is subject to any provision made under section 38,]

Witnesses and evidenceE+W

55 Penalty for neglecting or refusing to give evidence.E+W

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), any person who—

(a)having been summoned in pursuance of county court rules as a witness in a county court refuses or neglects, without sufficient cause, to appear or to produce any documents required by the summons to be produced; or

(b)having been so summoned or being present in court and being required to give evidence, refuses to be sworn or give evidence,

shall forfeit such fine as the judge may direct.

(2)A judge shall not have power under subsection (1) to direct that a person shall forfeit a fine of an amount exceeding [F4£1,000].

(3)No person summoned in pursuance of county court rules as a witness in a county court shall forfeit a fine under this section unless there has been paid or tendered to him at the time of the service of the summons such sum in respect of his expenses (including, in such cases as may be prescribed, compensation for loss of time) as may be prescribed for the purposes of this section.

(4)The judge may at his discretion direct that the whole or any part of any such fine, after deducting the costs, shall be applicable towards indemnifying the party injured by the refusal or neglect.

[F5(4A)A district judge, assistant district judge or deputy district judge shall have the same powers under this section as a judge.]

(5)This section does not apply to a debtor summoned to attend by a judgment summons.

56 Examination of witnesses abroad.E+W

The High Court shall have the same power to issue a commission, request or order to examine witnesses abroad for the purpose of proceedings in a county court as it has for the purpose of an action or matter in the High Court.

57 Evidence of prisoners.E+W

(1)Subject to subsection (2), in any proceedings pending before a county court, the judge may, if he thinks fit, upon application on affidavit by any party, issue an order under his hand for bringing up before the court any person (in this section referred to as a “prisoner”) confined in any place under any sentence or under committal for trial or otherwise, to be examined as a witness in the proceedings.

(2)No such order shall be made with respect to a person confined under process in any civil action or matter.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), the prisoner mentioned in any such order shall be brought before the court under the same custody, and shall be dealt with in the same manner in all respects, as a prisoner required by a writ of habeas corpus to be brought before the High Court and examined there as a witness.

(4)The person having the custody of the prisoner shall not be bound to obey the order unless there is tendered to him a reasonable sum for the conveyance and maintenance of a proper officer or officers and of the prisoner in going to, remaining at, and returning from, the court.

58 Persons who may take affidavits for use in county courts.E+W

(1)An affidavit to be used in a county court may be sworn before—

(a)the judge or registrar of any court; or

(b)any justice of the peace; or

(c)an officer of any court appointed by the judge of that court for the purpose,

as well as before [F6a commissioner for oaths or any other person]authorised to take affidavits under the Commissioners for Oaths Acts 1889 and 1891 . . . F7.

(2)An affidavit sworn before a judge or registrar or before any such officer may be sworn without the payment of any fee.

59 Evidence in Admiralty proceedings.E+W

(1)In any Admiralty proceedings, evidence taken before a registrar of an Admiralty county court, in accordance with the directions of a judge or pursuant to county court rules, may be received as evidence in any other Admiralty county court.

(2)The registrar of any Admiralty county court shall, for the purpose of the examination of any witness within the district assigned to that court for Admiralty purposes, have all the power of an examiner of the High Court, and evidence taken by him in that capacity may be received as evidence in the High Court.

Right of audienceE+W

60 Right of audience. E+W

(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

(2)Where an action is brought in a county court by a local authority for either or both of the following—

(a)the recovery of possession of a house belonging to the authority;

(b)the recovery of any rent, mesne profits, damages or other sum claimed by the authority in respect of the occupation by any person of such a house,

then, in so far as the proceedings in the action are heard by the registrar, any officer of the authority authorised by the authority in that behalf, . . . F9 may address the registrar . . . F9.

(3)In this section—

• “local authority” means a county council, . . . F10 a district council [F11the Broads Authority], a London borough council [F12, a police authority established under section 3 of the M1Police Act 1964][F13[F14the Inner London Education Authority], a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985.]or the Common Council of the City of London; and

• “house” includes a part of a house, a flat or any other dwelling and also includes any yard, garden, outhouse or appurtenance occupied with a house or part of a house or with a flat or other dwelling,

and any reference to the occupation of a house by a person includes a reference to anything done by that person, or caused or permitted by him to be done, in relation to the house as occupier of the house, whether under a tenancy or licence or otherwise.

61 Right of audience by direction of Lord Chancellor.E+W

(1)The Lord Chancellor may at any time direct that such categories of persons in relevant legal employment as may be specified in the direction may address the court in any proceedings in a county court, or in proceedings in a county court of such description as may be so specified.

(2)In subsection (1), “relevant legal employment” means employment which consists of or includes giving assistance in the conduct of litigation to a [F15legal representative]whether in private practice or not.

(3)A direction under this section may be given subject to such conditions and restrictions as appear to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or expedient, and may be expressed to have effect as respects every county court or as respects a specified county court or as respects one or more specified places where a county court sits.

(4)The power to give directions conferred by this section includes a power to vary or rescind any direction given under this section.

Mode of trialE+W

62 General power of judge to determine questions of law and fact.E+W

Subject to the provisions of this Act and of county court rules, the judge of a county court shall be the sole judge in all proceedings brought in the court, and shall determine all questions of fact as well as of law.

63 Assessors.E+W

[F16(1)In any proceedings the judge may, if he thinks fit on the application of any party, summon to his assistance, in such manner as may be prescribed, one or more persons of skill and experience in the matter to which the proceedings relate who may be willing to sit with the judge and act as assessors.

(2)For the purpose of assisting the judge in reviewing the taxation by the registrar of the costs of any proceedings, the power conferred by subsection (1) shall be exercisable by the judge without any application being made by any party to the proceedings.]

[F16(1)In any proceedings a judge may, on the application of a party to the proceedings, summon to his assistance one or more persons–

(a)of skill and experience in the matter to which the proceedings relate; and

(b)who may be willing to sit with him and act as assessors.

(2)In any proceedings prescribed for the purposes of this subsection a judge may summon to his assistance one or more such persons even though no application has been made for him to do so.

(2A)In any proceedings prescribed for the purposes of this subsection a district judge may, on the application of a party to the proceedings, summon to his assistance one or more such persons.

(2B)In any proceedings prescribed for the purposes of this subsection a district judge may summon to his assistance one or more such persons even though no application has been made for him to do so.

(2C)The summons shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed.]

(3)Subject to subsection (4), the remuneration of assessors for sitting under this section shall be at such rate as may be prescribed and shall be costs in the proceedings unless otherwise ordered by the judge.

[F17(4)Where one or more assessors are summoned [F18for the purposes of subsection (2)](otherwise than on the application of a party to the proceedings) the remuneration of any such assessor—

(a)shall be at such rate as may be determined by the Lord Chancellor with the approval of the Treasury; and

(b)shall be payable out of moneys provided by Parliament.]

[F17(4)In such cases as may be specified by order made by the Lord Chancellor with the consent of the Treasury, the remuneration of any assessor summoned under this section shall be paid, at such rate as may be so specified, out of money provided by Parliament.

(4A)Any power to make an order under subsection (4) shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.]

(5)Where any person is proposed to be summoned as an assessor, objection to him, either personally or in respect of his qualification, may be taken by any party in the prescribed manner.

64 Reference to arbitration.E+W

(1)County court rules—

(a)may prescribe cases in which proceedings are (without any order of the court) to be referred to arbitration, and

(b)may prescribe the manner in which and the terms on which cases are to be so referred, and

(c)may, where cases are so referred, require other matters within the jurisdiction of the court in dispute between the parties also to be referred to arbitration.

(2)County court rules—

(a)may prescribe cases in which proceedings may be referred to arbitration by order of the court, and

(b)may authorise the court also to order other matters in dispute between the parties and within the jurisdiction of the court to be so referred.

[F19(2A)County court rules may prescribe the procedures and rules of evidence to be followed on any reference under subsection (1) or (2).

(2B)Rules made under subsection (2A) may, in particular, make provision with respect to the manner of taking and questioning evidence.]

(3)On a reference under subsection (1) or (2) the award of the arbitrator, arbitrators or umpire shall be entered as the judgment in the proceedings and shall be as binding and effectual to all intents, subject to subsection (4), as if it had been given by the judge.

(4)The judge may, if he thinks fit, on application made to him within such time as may be prescribed, set aside the award, or may, with the consent of the parties, revoke the reference or order another reference to be made in the manner specified in this section.

(5)In this section “award” includes an interim award.

65 Power of judge to refer to registrar or referee.E+W

(1)Subject to county court rules, the judge may refer to the registrar or a referee for inquiry and report—

(a)any proceedings which require any prolonged examination of documents or any scientific or local investigation which cannot, in the opinion of the judge, conveniently be made before him;

(b)any proceedings where the question in dispute consists wholly or in part of matters of account;

(c)with the consent of the parties, any other proceedings;

(d)subject to any right to have particular cases tried with a jury, any question arising in any proceedings.

(2)In such cases as may be prescribed by, and subject to, county court rules the registrar may refer to a referee for inquiry and report any question arising in any proceedings.

(3)Where any proceedings or question are referred under subsection (1) or (2), the judge or, as the case may be, the registrar may direct how the reference shall be conducted, and may remit any report for further inquiry and report, and on consideration of any report or further report may give such judgment or make such order in the proceedings as may be just.

(4)The judge may, after deciding or reserving any question of liability, refer to the registrar any mere matter of account which is in dispute between the parties and, after deciding the question of liability, may give judgment on the registrar’s report.

JuriesE+W

66 Trial by jury.E+W

(1)In the following proceedings in a county court the trial shall be without a jury—

(a)Admiralty proceedings;

(b)proceedings arising—

(i)under Part I, II or III of the Rent (Agriculture) M2Act 1976, or

(ii)under any provision of the M3Rent Act 1977 other than a provision contained in Part V, sections 103 to 106 or Part IX, or

(iii)under Part I of the M4Protection from Eviction Act 1977; [F20or

(iv)under Part I of the Housing Act 1988]

(c)any appeal to the county court under [F21the Housing Act 1985].

(2)In all other proceedings in a county court the trial shall be without a jury unless the court otherwise orders on an application made in that behalf by any party to the proceeings in such manner and within such time before the trial as may be prescribed.

(3)Where, on any such application, the court is satisfied that there is in issue—

(a)a charge of fraud against the party making the application; or

(b)a claim in respect of libel, slander, malicious prosecution or false imprisonment; or

(c)any question or issue of a kind prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph,

the action shall be tried with a jury, unless the court is of opinion that the trial requires any prolonged examination of documents or accounts or any scientific or local investigation which cannot conveniently be made with a jury.

(4)There shall be payable, in respect of the trial with a jury of proceedings in a county court, such fees as may be prescribed by the fees orders.

67 Impanelling and swearing of jury.E+W

At any county court where proceedings are to be tried with a jury, eight jurymen shall be impanelled and sworn as occasion requires to give their verdicts in the proceedings brought before them, and being once sworn need not be re-sworn in each trial.

68 Duty of judge to determine foreign law in jury trials.E+W

Where, for the purpose of disposing of any proceedings which are being tried in a county court by the judge with a jury, it is necessary to ascertain the law of any other country which is applicable to the facts of the case, any question as to the effect of the evidence given with respect to that law shall, instead of being submitted to the jury, be decided by the judge alone.

Interest on debts and damagesE+W

69 Power to award interest on debts and damages.E+W

(1)Subject to county court rules, in proceedings (whenever instituted) before a county court for the recovery of a debt or damages there may be included in any sum for which judgment is given simple interest, at such rate as the court thinks fit or as may be prescribed, on all or any part of the debt or damages in respect of which judgment is given, or payment is made before judgment, for all or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and—

(a)in the case of any sum paid before judgment, the date of the payment; and

(b)in the case of the sum for which judgment is given, the date of the judgment.

(2)In relation to a judgment given for damages for personal injuries or death which exceed £200 subsection (1) shall have effect—

(a)with the substitution of “shall be included” for “may be included”; and

(b)with the addition of “unless the court is satisfied that there are special reasons to the contrary” after “given”, where first occurring.

(3)Subject to county court rules, where—

(a)there are proceedings (whenever instituted) before a county court for the recovery of a debt; and

(b)the defendant pays the whole debt to the plaintiff (otherwise than in pursuance of a judgment in the proceedings),

the defendant shall be liable to pay the plaintiff simple interest, at such rate as the court thinks fit or as may be prescribed, on all or any part of the debt for all or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and the date of the payment.

(4)Interest in respect of a debt shall not be awarded under this section for a period during which, for whatever reason, interest on the debt already runs.

(5)Interest under this section may be calculated at different rates in respect of different periods.

(6)In this section “plaintiff” means the person seeking the debt or damages and “defendant” means the person from whom the plaintiff seeks the debt or damages and “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.

(7)Nothing in this section affects the damages recoverable for the dishonour of a bill of exchange.

[F22(8)In determining whether the amount of any debt or damages exceeds that prescribed by or under any enactment, no account shall be taken of any interest payable by virtue of this section except where express provision to the contrary is made by or under that or any other enactment.]

Judgments and orders.E+W

70 Finality of judgments and orders.E+W

Every judgment and order of a county court shall, except as provided by this or any other Act or as may be prescribed, be final and conclusive between the parties.

71 Satisfaction of judgments and orders for payment of money.E+W

(1)Where a judgment is given or an order is made by a county court under which a sum of money of any amount is payable, whether by way of satisfaction of the claim or counterclaim in the proceedings or by way of costs or otherwise, the court may, as it thinks fit, order the money to be paid either—

(a)in one sum, whether forthwith or within such period as the court may fix; or

(b)by such instalments payable at such times as the court may fix.

(2)If at any time it appears to the satisfaction of the court that any party to any proceedings is unable from any cause to pay any sum recovered against him (whether by way of satisfaction of the claim or counterclaim in the proceedings or by way of costs or otherwise) or any instalment of such a sum, the court may, in its discretion, suspend or stay any judgment or order given or made in the proceedings for such time and on such terms as the court thinks fit, and so from time to time until it appears that the cause of inability has ceased.

72 Set-off in cases of cross judgments in county courts and High Court.E+W

(1)Where one person has obtained a judgment or order in a county court against another person, and that other person has obtained a judgment or order against the first-mentioned person in the same or in another county court or in the High Court, either such person may, in accordance with rules of court, give notice in writing to the court or the several courts as the case may be, and may apply to the court or any of the said courts in accordance with rules of court for leave to set off any sums, including costs, payable under the several judgments or orders.

(2)Upon any such application, the set-off may be allowed in accordance with the practice for the time being in force in the High Court as to the allowance of set-off and in particular in relation to any solicitor’s lien for costs.

(3)Where the cross judgments or orders have not been obtained in the same court, a copy of the order made on any such application shall be sent by the proper officer of the court to which the application is made to the proper officer of the other court.

73 Register of judgments and orders.E+W

[F23(1)A register of every–

(a)judgment entered in a county court;

(b)administration order made under section 112; and

(c)order restricting enforcement made under section 112A, shall be kept in such manner and in such place as may be prescribed.]

(2)The Lord Chancellor may, by statutory instrument, make regulations as to the keeping of the register, and in this section “prescribed” means prescribed by those regulations.

[F24(3)Regulations under this section may–

(a)prescribe circumstances in which judgments [F25or orders] are to be exempt from registration or in which the registration of any judgment [F26or order] is to be cancelled;

(b)provide for any specified class of judgments [F27or orders]to be exempt from registration.]

(4)Regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

[F28(5)The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, fix the fees to be paid in respect of–

(a)the making of any information contained in an entry in the register available for inspection in visible and legible form;

(b)the carrying out of any official search of the register;

(c)the supply of a certified copy of any information contained in an entry in the register.]

(6)The proceeds of the fees shall be applied in such manner as the Treasury may direct in paying the expenses incurred in maintaining the register, and any surplus, after providing for the payment of those expenses, shall be paid to the credit of the Consolidated Fund.

[F2973A Provision for register under s.73 to be kept by body under contract to Lord ChancellorE+W

(1)If—

(a)there is in force an agreement between the Lord Chancellor and a body corporate relating to the keeping by that body corporate of the register under section 73 (“the register”); and

(b)provision is made by regulations under that section for the register to be kept in accordance with such an agreement,

the register shall be kept by that body corporate.

(2)Where the register is kept by a body corporate in pursuance of subsection (1)–

(a)the Lord Chancellor may recover from that body any expenses incurred by the Lord Chancellor in connection with the supply of information to that body for the purposes of the register;

(b)subsection (5) of section 73 shall have effect as if the words “maximum amounts in relation to” were inserted after the word “fix”; and

(c)subsection (6) of that section shall not apply.

(3)Where subsection (1) of this section ceases to apply to a body corporate as a result of the termination (for any reason) of the agreement in question, the Lord Chancellor may require the information for the time being contained in the entries in the register to be transferred to such person as he may direct.]

74 Interest on judgment debts etc.E+W

(1)The Lord Chancellor may by order made with the concurrence of the Treasury provide that any sums to which this subsection applies shall carry interest at such rate and between such times as may be prescribed by the order.

(2)The sums to which subsection (1) applies are—

(a)sums payable under judgments or orders given or made in a county court, including sums payable by instalments; and

(b)sums which by virtue of any enactment are, if the county court so orders, recoverable as if payable under an order of that court, and in respect of which the county court has so ordered.

(3)The payment of interest due under subsection (1) shall be enforceable as a sum payable under the judgment or order.

(4)The power conferred by subsection (1) includes power—

(a)to specify the descriptions of judgment or order in respect of which interest shall be payable;

(b)to provide that interest shall be payable only on sums exceeding a specified amount;

(c)to make provision for the manner in which and the periods by reference to which the interest is to be calculated and paid;

(d)to provide that any enactment shall or shall not apply in relation to interest payable under subsection (1) or shall apply to it with such modifications as may be specified in the order; and

(e)to make such incidental or supplementary provisions as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate.

(5)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), an order under subsection (1) may provide that the rate of interest shall be the rate specified in section 17 of the M5Judgments Act 1838 as that enactment has effect from time to time.

(6)The power to make an order under subsection (1) shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

General rules of procedureE+W

75 County court rules.E+W

(1)The rule committee may make county court rules regulating the practice of the courts and forms of proceedings in them and prescribing scales of costs to be paid to counsel and solicitors.

(2)The power to make county court rules shall extend to all matters of procedure or practice, or matters relating to or concerning the effect or operation in law of any procedure or practice, in any case within the cognisance of county courts as to which rules of the Supreme Court have been or might lawfully be made for cases within the cognisance of the High Court.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1)

and (2), the power to make county court rules shall extend to—

(a)prescribing the court in which proceedings are to be commenced and the procedure to be adopted where proceedings are commenced in one court which should under the rules have been commenced in another court;

[F32(b)prescribing the circumstances in which proceedings may be transferred by decision of any judge, district judge or officer of the court from one court to another and the procedure consequent on any such transfer.]

(c)prescribing the circumstances in which a warrant for the arrest and detention of any vessel, aircraft or property to which an action in rem relates may be transferred from one court to another and the procedure consequent on any such transfer;

[F33(d)prescribing cases in which—

(i)any jurisdiction of a county court is to be exercised by a district judge of a county court or by some other officer of the court;

(ii)any functions of a judge of a county court are to be discharged by a district judge of a county court or some other officer of the court;

(iii)any functions of a district judge of a county court are to be discharged by some other officer of the court;

(iv)any such jurisdiction may be so exercised or any such functions may be so discharged; or]

(e)authorising directions to be given as follows, where the same judge is the judge for two or more districts, that is to say—

(i)authorising the judge to direct that the hearing in proceedings pending in the court for one of those districts, being proceedings which are to be heard and determined by the judge, shall take place in the court for another of those districts, or

(ii)authorising the registrar for one of those districts to direct that the hearing in proceedings pending in the court for the district for which he is the registrar, being proceedings which are to be heard and determined by the judge, shall take place in the court for another of those districts; and

(f)making, with respect to proceedings in county courts, any provision regarding [F34legal representatives]which could be made by rules of court with respect to proceedings in the High Court.

(4)County court rules may regulate or provide for any matters which were regulated or provided for by county court rules which were made at any time before 1st January 1982.

(5)Rules made under subsection (3)(a) and (b) may make different provision as respects different kinds of proceedings and may make special provision as respects—

(a)proceedings in courts for districts in or adjacent to the area comprising the Inner London boroughs and the City of London; and

(b)proceedings by or against judges or officers of the courts.

(6)The foregoing provisions of this section authorise the making of rules providing for orders being made at any stage of any proceedings directing that specified facts may be proved at the trial by affidavit with or without the attendance of the deponent for cross-examination, notwithstanding that a party desires his attendance for cross-examination and that he can be produced for that purpose.

[F35(6A)County court rules may—

(a)to any extent (and with or without modification) apply any rules of court, or other provision–

(i)made by or under any enactment; and

(ii)relating to the practice or procedure of any other court,

to the practice or procedure of county courts; and

(b)amend or repeal any statutory provision relating to the practice or procedure of county courts so far as may be necessary in consequence of any provision made by the rules.

Rules made by virtue of this subsection applying any provisions may apply them as amended from time to time.]

[F36(7)The rule committee shall consist of the following persons appointed by the Lord Chancellor–

(a)five judges of county courts;

(b)two district judges;

(c)two persons who have a Supreme Court qualification (within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990); and

(d)two persons who have been granted by an authorised body, under Part II of that Act, the right to conduct litigation in relation to all proceedings in the Supreme Court.]

(8)The Lord Chancellor may from time to time fill up any vacancies among the members of the rule committee.

(9)Any rules made by the rule committee shall be certified under the hands of the members of the committee, or any three or more of them, and submitted to the Lord Chancellor, who may allow or disallow or alter them.

(10)Any rules so made, as allowed or altered by the Lord Chancellor, shall—

(a)come into operation on such day as the Lord Chancellor may direct;

(b)be embodied in a statutory instrument to which the M6Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply as if it embodied rules made by a Minister of the Crown.

76 Application of practice of High Court.E+W

In any case not expressly provided for by or in pursuance of this Act, the general principles of practice in the High Court may be adopted and applied to proceedings in a county court.