# The Insolvency Rules 1986, Rule 7.31: Right to inspect the file

Extent: E+W

(1) In the case of any insolvency proceedings, the following have the right, at all reasonable times, to inspect the court's file of the proceedings—
(a) the person who, in relation to those proceedings, is the responsible insolvency practitioner;
(b) any duly authorised officer of the Department; and
(c) any person stating himself in writing to be a creditor of the company to which, or the individual to whom, the proceedings relate.
(2) The same right of inspection is exercisable—
(a) in proceedings under Parts I to VII of the Act, by every person who is, or at any time has been, a director or officer of the company to which the proceedings relate, or who is a member of the company or a contributory in its winding up;
(b) in proceedings with respect to a voluntary arrangement proposed by a debtor under Part VIII of the Act, by the debtor;
(c) in bankruptcy proceedings, by—
(i) the bankrupt,
(ii) any person against whom, or by whom, a bankruptcy petition has been presented, and
(iii) any person who has been served, in accordance with Chapter 1 of Part 6 of the Rules, with a statutory demand.
(3) The right of inspection conferred as above on any person may be exercised on his behalf by a person properly authorised by him.
(4) Any person may, by special leave of the court, inspect the file.
(5) The right of inspection conferred by this Rule is not exercisable in the case of documents, or parts of documents, as to which the court directs (either generally or specially) that they are not to be made open to inspection without the court's leave.
An application for a direction of the court under this paragraph may be made by the official receiver, by the person who in relation to any proceedings is the responsible insolvency practitioner, or by any party appearing to the court to have an interest.
(6) If, for the purpose of powers conferred by the Act or the Rules, the Secretary of State, the Department or the official receiver requires to inspect the file of any insolvency proceedings, and requests the transmission of the file, the court shall comply with the request (unless the file is for the time being in use for the court's own purposes).
(7) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of Rule 7.28 apply in respect of the court's file of any proceedings as they apply in respect of court records.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1925/rule/7.31 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/insolvency-rules-1986/rule-7.31
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.