Explanatory note

make it clear that a defendant’s request for time for payment must contain a specific proposal as to the time or rate of payment (rule 2);

permit a party to require his opponent to supply copies of documents which he is entitled to inspect (rules 3 to 6);

provide that the undertaking not to use documents for an ulterior purpose shall cease when the document is read or referred to in open court (rule 7);

permit parties to amend their pleadings by consent (rule 8);

enable a judgment debtor to request payment of conduct money to attend an adjourned oral examination direct from the judgment creditor and remove from the court the duty to tender such money (rules 9 and 10);

enable a judge to order that a contemnor on whom a notice to show cause has not been served to appear before him (rule 11);

provide for the taxation of costs under section 53 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (reimbursement of additional costs resulting from death or incapacity of presiding judge) (rule 12);

provide for applications under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (tenants' rights of first refusal, appointment of managers, compulsory acquisition by tenants of landlord’s interest, variation of leases) and transfer the provision relating to section 12 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 from Order 49 to Order 43 (rules 13 to 19);

insert a reference in Order 47 to authorised courts under the Adoption Act 1976 (rule 20);

provide for applications under Part 1 of the Family Law Act 1986 (recognition and enforcement of custody orders in other parts of the United Kingdom)(rule 21);

provide for the internal allocation of custody proceedings as between county courts (rules 22 to 24).