51 Variation of instalments and means inquiries.E+W
(1)The following section shall be inserted after section 85 of the M1Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980—
“85A Variation of instalments of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction.
Where under section 75 above a magistrates’ court orders that a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction shall be paid by instalments, the court, on an application made by the person liable to pay that sum, shall have power to vary that order by varying the number of instalments payable, the amount of any instalment payable, and the date on which any instalment becomes payable.”.
(2)In section 86 of that Act (power of magistrates’ court to fix day for appearance of offender at means inquiry etc.)—
(a)the following subsections shall be substituted for subsection (1)—
“(1)A magistrates’ court which has exercised in relation to a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction either of the powers conferred by section 75(1) above shall have power, either then or later, to fix a day on which, if the relevant condition is satisfied, the offender must appear in person before the court for either or both of the following purposes, namely—
(a)to enable an inquiry into his means to be made under section 82 above;
(b)to enable a hearing required by subsection (5) of the said section 82 to be held.
(1A)Where the power which the court has exercised is the power to allow time for payment of a sum (“the adjudged sum"), the relevant condition is satisfied if any part of that sum remains unpaid on the day fixed by the court.
(1B)Where the power which the court has exercised is the power to order payment by instalments, the relevant condition is satisfied if an instalment which has fallen due remains unpaid on the day fixed by the court.”; and
(b)the following paragraph shall be substituted for subsection (4)(a)—
“(a)the relevant condition is satisfied; and”.
Marginal Citations