http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/1991/1126

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1991/1126/article/3/made

The County Court (Amendment No. 2) Rules 1991

County courts

King's Printer of Acts of Parliament

2015-05-13

COUNTY COURTS;PROCEDURE

These Rules amend the County Court Rules 1981 so as to—require “statements of value” to be given in respect of actions forunliquidated sums over £5,000 (rules 2 and 3);increase the limit of the small claims procedure (under whichclaims are dealt with by arbitration) to £1,000 and the trialjurisdiction of district judges to £5,000, and make minor andconsequential amendments (rules 4 to 8);allow a solicitor to serve by post a summons in an action forpersonal injuries (rules 9 to 11);enlarge the powers of district judges and clarify the procedure forcommittal under certain sections of the County Courts Act 1984 (rules12 to 17);following the changes made by the Courts and Legal Services Act1990 and by the High Court and County Courts Jurisdiction Order, amendthe provisions for transfer between the High Court and the county courtsand require all applications for transfer to the High Court to besupported by a statement of value (rules 18 to 21);allow a plaintiff to prepare certain court documents and makeother miscellaneous amendments (rules 22 to 27);provide for full admissions to be sent direct to the plaintiff(instead of through the court) in actions for liquidated sums anddevolve to court staff the making of judgments as to the date of, andinstalments for, payment where there is no dispute as to the amount tobe paid (rules 28 to 38);relax the provisions as to venue to enable a plaintiff to commencea default action in any county court (subject to automatic transfer inan action for a liquidated sum to the defendant’s local court where ahearing is to take place) (rules 39 to 47);devolve to court staff the making of certain consent orders,variation orders and orders suspending a warrant on terms as to payment(rules 48 to 50); andincrease to £50 the minimum debt in respect of which anattachment of earnings order may be made and devolve to court staffcertain functions in relation to such orders (rules 51 to 67).

Civil Justice Review: jurisdictional changes3

After Order 6, rule 1(1), there shall be inserted the following newparagraph—

1A
In an action for an unliquidated sum the value of the plaintiff'sclaim shall, for the purposes of Order 21, rule 5(1), be treated aslimited to the sum for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (b) ofthat paragraph, unless—
a
the plaintiff states in his particulars of claim or otherwise thatthe value of his claim exceeds the said sum; or
b
the court orders otherwise;
and, where a statement is made under sub-paragraph (a), theplaintiff shall forthwith file an amended statement whenever the valueof his claim falls to the said sum or less.