SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 2

Part II Excepted Proceedings

1

Subject to paragraph 2 below, civil legal aid shall not be available in proceedings which are wholly or partly concerned with defamation or verbal injury.

2

The making of a counterclaim for defamation or verbal injury in any proceedings shall not of itself affect the availability of legal aid to the other party, and legal aid may be granted for the purposes of defending such a counterclaim.

F13

Civil legal aid shall not be available in relation to —

a

election petitions under the Representation of the People Act 1983 M1;

b

simplified divorce applications under the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Session or the sheriff court;

c

small claims processes at first instance under section 35(2) of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 M2 summary causes); and

d

petitions by a debtor for the sequestration of his estate under section 5(2)(a) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 M3.

F24

Subject to paragraph 5 below, civil legal aid shall not be available in relation to proceedings at first instance under the Debtors (Scotland) Act M41987, other than proceedings in connection with an application under section 1(1) or 3(1) of that Act to a Lord Ordinary or to the sheriff in an ordinary cause.

5

Nothing in paragraph 4 above shall preclude any third party to proceedings under the Debtors (Scotland) Act M51987 from obtaining legal aid in connection with those proceedings.