1. These Rules may be cited as the Magistrates' Courts (Recovery Abroad of Maintenance) (Amendment) Rules 1980 and shall come into operation on 1st February 1981.

2. In rule 7(2) of the Magistrates' Courts (Recovery Abroad of Maintenance) Rules 1975(2) for the words "to four times the sum payable weekly under the order" there shall be substituted the words-

"(a)in the case of payments to be made monthly or less frequently, to twice the sum payable periodically; or

(b)in any other case, to four times the sum payable periodically":

Provided that the amendment made by this rule shall not have effect in relation to any such order as is referred to in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 (transitional provisions) and, accordingly, the said Rules of 1975 shall have effect in relation to any such order as if these Rules had not been made.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

1. These Rules amend the Magistrates' Courts (Recovery Abroad of Maintenance) Rules 1975 consequent upon the coming into force on 1st February 1981 (S.I. 1980/1478) of section 57 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978. Rule 7(2) which requires a justices' clerk to take enforcement proceedings in his own name when arrears of payments amount to four times the weekly payment is amended so as to require him to do so when the arrears amount to four times the periodical payment or, if due at intervals of a month or more, twice the periodical payment (rule 2).

2. In conformity with the transitional provisions contained in Schedule 1 to the Act of 1978 the amendment does not apply in relation to orders made before section 57 comes into force (rule 2, proviso).