5.—(1) Subject to regulations 6 and 18 below, an application for legal aid under section 14 of the Act(1) shall be–
(a)in writing, in such form as the Board may require, and signed by the applicant, or, where the applicant on cause shown cannot sign the application, by a person authorised by the applicant, or, where the applicant is mentally disordered in terms of section 1(2) of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984(2), by the applicant’s legal representative;
(b)accompanied by a statement, signed by the applicant, or, where the applicant in terms of the above sub-paragraph either cannot sign the application or is mentally disordered, by an authorised person or by the applicant’s legal representative, and by or on behalf of the solicitor acting for the applicant, as to the nature of the case and the interest of the applicant therein;
(c)accompanied, so far as possible, by such precognitions and other documents as may be requisite to enable the Board to determine the application; and
(d)accompanied by a copy for each opponent of the statement referred to in sub-paragraph (b) above together with such form of intimation as the Board may require in relation to each opponent and either the address of each opponent or each opponent’s solicitor or a statement that the whereabouts of the opponent are unknown following reasonable enquiry.
(2) Where the applicant resides outside the United Kingdom and is not able to be present in the United Kingdom when his application is being considered, the application, which shall be in English or in French, shall, subject to paragraph (3) below, be sworn–
(a)if the applicant resides within the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, before any Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, or any person for the time being authorised by law, in the place where he is, to administer an oath for any judicial or other legal purpose, or
(b)if the applicant resides elsewhere, before a consular officer in the service of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, or any other person for the time being authorised to exercise the functions of such an officer or having authority to administer an oath in that place for any judicial or other legal purpose,
and shall be accompanied by a statement in writing, itemising the applicant’s disposable income and disposable capital.
(3) The requirements of paragraph (2) above may be waived in whole or in part by the Board where it is satisfied that compliance with them would cause serious difficulty, inconvenience or delay and the application satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1) above.
Section 14 was amended by the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, Schedule 8, paragraph 36(4) and (5).