COUNTY COURTS Citation and interpretation 1 1 These Rules may be cited as the County Court (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2003. 2 In these Rules a reference to an Order, Rule, Form or Appendix by number is a reference to that Order, Rule or Appendix as numbered in the County Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1981 . Small Claims 2 In Order 26, for Rule 24 there shall be substituted the following new Rule – 24 An application in Form 127 or 128 may only be made with the judge’s permission – a if the claim is brought against the Crown; or b if in any such proceedings as are mentioned in section 139(1)(b) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 the debtor or surety desires to have a credit agreement re-opened. . Appeals 3 Order 32 is amended as follows – a in paragraph (4) of Rule 1, for the words “Every such notice” there shall be substituted the words “Subject to paragraphs (4A) and (4B), every such notice”; and b after paragraph (4) of Rule 1 there shall be inserted the following new paragraphs – 4A If the appeal is brought under section 35A or section 40B of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (in this Rule referred to as “ the Act ”) against a decision of the Secretary of State to impose a penalty under section 32 of the Act or a charge under section 40 of the Act, the appeal notice must, subject to paragraph (4B), be served within twenty-eight days after receiving the penalty notice or charge notice. 4B If notice of objection has been given to the Secretary of State under section 35(4) or section 40A(3) of the Act within the time prescribed for doing so, the appeal notice must be served within 28 days after receiving notice of the Secretary of State’s decision in response to the notice of objection. . Adoption 4 Order 50 and Forms 249 to 262 are hereby revoked but nothing in this Rule will effect any application commenced before this Rule comes into operation. Costs 5 In Part VIII of Appendix 2 for paragraph 2 there shall be substituted the following new paragraph – 2 In equity and title matters solicitor’s costs and counsel’s fees shall be determined in accordance with Tables 1 and 2 respectively. TABLE 1 Where the value of the personalty and/or lands – Solicitor’s cost does not exceed £5,000 £450 exceeds £5,000 but not £10,000 £950 exceeds £10,000 but not £15,000 £1,350 exceeds £15,000 but not £20,000 £1,750 exceeds £20,000 but not £25,000 £2,000 exceeds £25,000 but not £35,000 £2,200 exceeds £35,000 but not £45,000 £2,400 TABLE 2 Where the value of the personalty and/or lands – Counsel’s fee for advising proceedings defence settling the equity civil bill and advising proofs Counsel’s fee on the hearing of every equity civil bill or petition does not exceed £5,000 £77 £224 exceeds £5,000 but not £10,000 £103 £286 exceeds £10,000 but not £15,000 £127 £383 exceeds £15,000 but not £20,000 £167 £446 exceeds £20,000 but not £25,000 £192 £511 exceeds £25,000 but not £35,000 £252 £638 exceeds £35,000 but not £45,000 £309 £767 We, the undersigned members of the County Court Rules Committee, having by virtue of the powers vested in us in this behalf made the forgoing Rules, do hereby certify the same under our hand and submit them to the Lord Chancellor accordingly. A. R. Hart T. A. Burgess Barry Valentine Brian Kennedy James Agnew Brian F. Walker P. Kelly Dated 30th April 2003. After consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, I allow these Rules which shall come into operation on 1st June 2003. Irvine of Lairg, C. Dated 19th May 2003.