Citation and commencement

1. -�

(1) This Act of Adjournal may be cited as the Act of Adjournal (Consolidation Amendment No.2)(Evidence of Children) 1991 and shall come into force on 30th September 1991.

(2) This Act of Adjournal shall be inserted in the Books of Adjournal.

Amendment of Act of Adjournal (Consolidation) 1988

2. -�

(1) The Act of Adjournal (Consolidation) 1988((2)) shall be amended in accordance with the following sub-paragraphs.

(2) After rule 61 (application of other provisions to application for appointment of a commissioner), insert the following rule:-�

"Evidence of Children

61A. -�

(1) An application to the court under section 56(1) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990((3)) for authorisation of the giving of evidence by a child by means of a live television link shall be made by petition in Form 28D(1) or Form 28D(2) of Schedule 1.

(2) An application referred to in paragraph (1) shall-�

(a)where it relates to proceedings in the High Court, be lodged with the Clerk of Justiciary; and

(b)where it relates to proceedings in the sheriff court, be lodged with the sheriff clerk,

not later than 14 clear days before the trial diet (except on special cause shown).

(3) The court shall, on the application being placed before it-�

(a)order intimation of the application to be made to the other party or parties to the proceedings; and

(b)fix a diet for hearing the application on the earliest practicable date.

(4) After hearing the parties and allowing such further procedure as the court thinks fit-�

(a)the court may make an order granting or refusing the application; or

(b)where section 57 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 applies, the sheriff may make an order under that section transferring the case to another sheriff court in the same sheriffdom.

(5) Where the sheriff makes an order under paragraph 4(b) transferring the cause to another sheriff court (the "receiving court") the sheriff clerk shall forthwith transmit the record copy indictment, the minute of proceedings, any productions and any relevant documents to the clerk of the receiving court.".

(3) After rule 111 (application of other provisions to application for appointment of a commissioner), insert the following rule:-�

"Evidence of Children

111A. -�

(1) An application to the court under section 56(1) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990((4)) for authorisation of the giving of evidence by a child by means of a live television link shall be made by petition in Form 56A of Schedule 1.

(2) An application referred to in paragraph (1) shall be lodged with the sheriff clerk not later than 14 clear days before the trial diet (except on special cause shown).

(3) The sheriff shall on the application being placed before him-�

(a)order intimation of the application to be made to the other party or parties to the proceedings; and

(b)fix a diet for hearing the application on the earliest practicable date.

(4) The sheriff may, after hearing the parties to the proceedings and allowing such further procedure as he thinks fit-�

(a)make an order granting or refusing the application; or

(b)where section 57 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 applies, make an order under that section transferring the case to another sheriff court in the same sheriffdom.

(5) Where the sheriff makes an order under paragraph (4)(b) transferring the cause to another sheriff court (the "receiving court") the sheriff clerk shall forthwith transmit the complaint, the minute of proceedings, any productions and any relevant documents to the clerk of the receiving court.".

(4) In Schedule 1-�

(a)after Form 28C, insert the forms in Schedule 1 to this Act of Adjournal; and

(b)after Form 56, insert the form in Schedule 2 to this Act of Adjournal.

paragraph 2(4)(a)

SCHEDULE 1

paragraph 2(4)(b)

SCHEDULE 2

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Act of Adjournal)

Section 56 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 provides for applications to the court for the evidence of a child to be taken by means of a live television link in both solemn and summary proceedings. Section 57 of that Act provides for the transfer of a case from one sheriff court to another in the same sheriffdom to enable the evidence of a child to be given by such means where suitable equipment or accommodation is not available at the former court. This Act of Adjournal sets out the form of such applications and prescribes the procedure to be followed.