Restrictive Practices Court Act 1976

9 Procedure

(1) The procedure in or in connection with any proceedings before the Court and, subject to the approval of the Treasury, the fees chargeable in respect of such proceedings, shall be such as may be determined by rules made by the Lord Chancellor.

Rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, rules made under that subsection may provide—

(a) with respect to the persons to be made respondents to any application to the Court;

(b) with respect to the place at which the Court is to sit for the purposes of any proceedings ;

(c) with respect to the evidence which may be required or admitted in any proceedings ;

(d) for securing, by means of preliminary statements of facts and contentions, and by the production of documents, the administration of interrogatories and other methods of discovery, that all material facts and considerations are brought before the Court by all parties to any proceedings, including the Director General of Fair Trading.

(3) In relation to the attendance and examination of witnesses, the production and inspection of documents, the enforcement of its orders, and all other matters incidental to its jurisdiction, the Court shall have the like powers, rights, privileges and authority—

(a) in England and Wales, as the High Court;

(b) in Scotland, as the Court of Session; and

(c) in Northern Ireland, as the High Court of Northern Ireland.

(4) No person shall be punished for contempt of the Court except by or with the consent of a judge who is a member of the Court