Scottish Civil Justice Council publishes update

At its meeting last week the council agreed to consider draft rules by correspondence in thePostal Administration Rules (Scotland) 2016 with a view that they be submitted to the Court of Session for consideration before the next meeting:

The rules would make provision to ensure that the universal postal service is maintained in the event that a company providing such a service becomes insolvent.

Following discussions, these provisions are now not due to come into force until October 2016 and accordingly draft rules will be considered at the next appropriate council meeting.

The SCJC is also jointly funding a Scottish Legal Aid Board research proposal on alternative dispute resolution.

Meanwhile, Lord Malcolm is considering the test and procedure regulating applications for Protective Expenses Orders under Chapter 58A, to include the interaction between PEOs and legal aid.

The council is due to meet on 14 March to discuss its work priorities. The output from the meeting will inform the council’s Annual Programme for 2016/17.