{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998/rule-31.3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998/rule-31.3.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1998/3132",
  "legislation_title": "The Civil Procedure Rules 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998",
  "path": "rule/31.3",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "31.3",
  "heading": "Right of inspection of a disclosed document",
  "text": "(1) A party to whom a document has been disclosed has a right to inspect that document except where—\n(a) the document is no longer in the control of the party who disclosed it;\n(b) the party disclosing the document has a right or a duty to withhold inspection of it; or\n(c) paragraph (2) applies; ...\n(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(Rule 31.8 sets out when a document is in the control of a party)\n(Rule 31.19 sets out the procedure for claiming a right or duty to withhold inspection)\n...\n(2) Where a party considers that it would be disproportionate to the issues in the case to permit inspection of documents within a category or class of document disclosed under rule 31.6(b)—\n(a) they are not required to permit inspection of documents within that category or class; but\n(b) they must state in their disclosure statement that inspection of those documents will not be permitted on the grounds that to do so would be disproportionate.\n(Rule 31.6 provides for standard disclosure)\n(Rule 31.10 makes provision for a disclosure statement)\n(Rule 31.12 provides for a party to apply for an order for specific inspection of documents)",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in rule 31.3(1)(b) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/521), regs. 1(1), 10(2)(a)(i) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 9(2)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in rule 31.3(1)(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/521), regs. 1(1), 10(2)(a)(ii) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 9(2)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Rule 31.3(1)(d) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/521), regs. 1(1), 10(2)(a)(iii) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 9(2)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in rule 31.3(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/521), regs. 1(1), 10(2)(b) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 9(2)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in rule 31.3(2)(a) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/817), rules 1(3), 10(1)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in rule 31.3(2)(b) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/817), rules 1(3), 10(1)(b)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Word in rule 31.3(2)(b) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/817), rules 1(3), 10(1)(b)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Rule 31.3 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/3132/rule/31.3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:12:59.276840+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}