The sheriff, on an application by the authority accompanied by a certificate from them containing such particulars as may be prescribed, shall grant a summary warrant in a form provided for by Act of Sederunt authorising the recovery, by any of the diligences mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) below, of the amount of the sum remaining due and unpaid along with a surcharge of 10 per cent. of that amount.

It shall be incompetent for the sheriff to grant a summary warrant under sub-paragraph (2) above in respect of any sum to which this Schedule applies if an action has already been raised for the recovery of that sum; and, without prejudice to sub-paragraph (5) below, on the raising of an action for the recovery of any such sum, any existing summary warrant in so far as it relates to the recovery of that sum shall cease to have effect.

It shall be incompetent to raise an action in Scotland for the recovery of any sum to which this Schedule applies if, in pursuance of a summary warrant, any of the diligences mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) above for the recovery of that sum has been executed.

The Secretary of State may by order substitute another percentage for the percentage which is for the time being mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above.