PART 1Introduction

Citation1.

These Rules may be cited as the Water Industry (Special Administration) Rules 2009.

Commencement2.

These Rules come into force on 1st November 2009.

Definitions and interpretation3.

(1)

In these Rules—

“the Authority” means the Water Services Regulation Authority;

“business day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day that is a bank holiday in any part of England and Wales;

“the CPR” means the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 M1 and “CPR” followed by a Part or rule number means the Part or rule with that number in those Rules;

“court” means the High Court;

“file” means file in court;

“Form WAT” followed by a number means the form with that number in the Schedule;

“the Insolvency Act” means, subject to paragraph (2), the Insolvency Act 1986;

“proxy” has the meaning given in rule 61;

“the registrar” means—

(a)

in the case of proceedings in a district registry of the Chancery Division of the High Court, the district judge; and

(b)

in any other case, F1an Insolvency and Companies Court Judge;

“solicitor” (except in relation to witnessing an affidavit) includes any person who has, under or pursuant to an enactment, the right to conduct litigation in relation to special administration proceedings;

“special administration order” has the meaning given by section 23 of the Water Industry Act 1991 M2;

“special administration proceedings” means proceedings under sections 23 to 25 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Water Industry Act 1991;

“special administrator” has the meaning given in paragraph 12 of Schedule 3 to the Water Industry Act 1991;

“statement of affairs” has the meaning given in section 22 of the Insolvency Act;

“water company” means a relevant undertaker or a qualifying F2water supply licensee within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991.

(2)

A reference to the Insolvency Act or a provision of that Act is a reference to that Act or provision as applied, substituted or modified by sections 23 to 26 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Water Industry Act 1991, construed in accordance with section 249 of the Enterprise Act 2002 M3.

(3)

A reference to the Insolvency Rules 1986 M4 is a reference to those Rules as in force immediately before 15th September 2003.

(4)

A reference to the venue for proceedings, for an attendance before the court, or for a meeting, is to the time, date and place for the proceedings, attendance or meeting.

Application: general4.

(1)

These Rules apply to special administration proceedings that commence, in relation to a water company, on or after the date on which these Rules come into force.

(2)

For special administration proceedings that commenced before that date, these Rules apply to steps taken in those proceedings on or after that date.

Application of Insolvency Rules 19865.

(1)

These Rules apply the Insolvency Rules 1986, with modifications.

(2)

Except as provided for in these Rules, nothing in the Insolvency Rules 1986 applies to—

(a)

special administration proceedings commenced, in relation to a water company, on or after the date on which these Rules come into force; or

(b)

any step taken on or after that date in special administration proceedings that commenced before that date.

Forms for use in special administration proceedings6.

(1)

The forms in the Schedule must be used in, and in connection with, special administration proceedings.

(2)

A form may be used with any variations that the circumstances require.