(1)Section 63 of the M1County Courts Act 1984 (assessors) shall be amended as follows.

(2)The following subsections shall be substituted for subsections (1) and (2)—

“(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)For subsection (4) there shall be substituted—

“(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.”