Article 28 Small claims procedure

For Order 19, rule 2(3), there shall be substituted the following–

“(3)

Any proceedings in which the sum claimed or amount involved does not exceed £500 (leaving out of account the sum claimed or amount involved in any counterclaim) shall stand referred for arbitration by the registrar upon the receipt by the court of a defence to the claim, but the registrar may, on the application of any party, refer the proceedings for arbitration by the judge or by an outside arbitrator.”.