Article 22 Exchange of witness statements

After Order 20, rule 12, there shall be inserted the following—

“Exchange of witness statements

12A

(1)

Subject to paragraph (2), at any stage in an action or matter the court may, if it thinks fit for the purpose of disposing fairly and expeditiously of the action or matter and saving costs, direct any party to serve on the other parties, on such terms as the court shall think just, written statements of the oral evidence which the party intends to lead on any issues of fact to be decided at the trial and R.S.C. Order 38, rule 2A shall apply to a direction under this rule as it applies to a direction under paragraph (2) of the said rule 2A.

(2)

No direction shall be made under this rule in proceedings which stand referred for arbitration under Order 19, rule 2(3).”.