
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Cross-Border Mediation (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and come into force on 6th April 2011.
(2) They do not apply to disputes in relation to which mediation starts before 6th April 2011.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), mediation starts on the date when all the parties to the dispute agree to participate in the mediation.
2 

(1) In these Regulations—
 “the Directive” means Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21st May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters; and
 “relevant cross-border dispute” means a cross-border dispute to which the Directive applies.
(2) Expressions used in the Directive have the same meaning for the purposes of these Regulations as in the Directive, unless the context otherwise requires.
3 

(1) A mediator of, or a person involved in the administration of mediation in relation to, a relevant cross-border dispute is not to be compelled in any civil proceedings or arbitration to give evidence, or produce anything, regarding any information arising out of or in connection with that mediation.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply—
(a) where all the parties to the mediation agree otherwise; or
(b) in the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) or (b) of Article 7.1 of the Directive.
4 
The Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 is amended in accordance with regulations 5 and 6.
5 

(1) Section 14 (computation of prescriptive periods) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—“
(1A) The prescriptive period calculated in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute for the purposes of any provision of this Part of this Act is extended where the last day of the period would, apart from this subsection, fall—
(a) in the 8 weeks after the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends;
(b) on the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends; or
(c) after the date when all of the parties to the dispute agree to participate in a mediation in relation to the dispute but before the date that such mediation ends.
(1B) Where subsection (1A) applies, the prescriptive period is extended so that it expires on the date falling 8 weeks after the date on which the mediation ends.
(1C) For the purposes of subsections (1A) and (1B), a mediation ends on the date that any of the following occurs—
(a) all of the parties reach an agreement in resolution of the dispute;
(b) all of the parties agree to end the mediation;
(c) a party withdraws from the mediation, which is the date on which—
(i) a party informs all of the other parties of that party’s withdrawal,
(ii) in the case of a mediation involving 2 parties, 14 days expire after a request made by one party to the other party for confirmation of whether the other party has withdrawn, if the other party does not respond in that period, or
(iii) in the case of a mediation involving more than 2 parties, a party informs all of the remaining parties that the party received no response in the 14 days after a request to another party for confirmation of whether the other party had withdrawn; or
(d) a period of 14 days expires after the date on which the mediator’s tenure ends (by reason of death, resignation or otherwise), if a replacement mediator has not been appointed.”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “In this section” insert—“—
 “the Directive” means Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21st May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters;”; and
(b) after “1971” insert—“;
 “mediation” and “mediator” have the meanings given by Article 3 of the Directive; and
 “relevant cross-border dispute” means a cross-border dispute within the meaning given by Article 2 of the Directive—
(a) which is about a right or obligation to which a prescriptive period applies by virtue of this Part of this Act; and
(b) to which the Directive applies.”.
6 
After section 19D, insert—“
19F 

(1) The limitation period calculated in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute for the purposes of sections 17, 18, 18A or 18B of this Act is extended where the last day of the period would, apart from this subsection, fall—
(a) in the 8 weeks after the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends;
(b) on the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends; or
(c) after the date when all of the parties to the dispute agree to participate in a mediation in relation to the dispute but before the date that such mediation ends.
(2) Where subsection (1) applies, the limitation period is extended so that it expires on the date falling 8 weeks after the date on which the mediation ends.
(3) For the purpose of this section, mediation in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute ends when any of the following occurs—
(a) all of the parties reach an agreement in resolution of the dispute;
(b) all of the parties agree to end the mediation;
(c) a party withdraws from the mediation, which is the date on which—
(i) a party informs all of the other parties of that party’s withdrawal,
(ii) in the case of a mediation involving 2 parties, 14 days expire after a request made by one party to the other party for confirmation of whether the other party has withdrawn, if the other party does not respond in that period, or
(iii) in the case of a mediation involving more than 2 parties, a party informs all of the remaining parties that the party received no response in the 14 days after a request to another party for confirmation of whether the other party had withdrawn; or
(d) a period of 14 days expires after the date on which the mediator’s tenure ends (by reason of death, resignation or otherwise), if a replacement mediator has not been appointed.
(4) In this section—
 “the Directive” means Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21st May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters;
 “mediation” and “mediator” have the meanings given by Article 3 of the Directive; and
 “relevant cross-border dispute” means a cross-border dispute within the meaning given by Article 2 of the Directive—
(a) which is about a matter to which a limitation period applies by virtue of sections 17 to 18B; and
(b) to which the Directive applies.”.
7 

(1) Section 71 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) In subsection (2), after “shall” insert “subject to subsection (3) below”.
(3) After subsection (2), insert—“
(3) The one year period calculated in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute for the purposes of subsection (2) above is extended where it would, apart from this subsection, expire—
(a) in the 8 weeks after the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends;
(b) on the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends; or
(c) after the date when all of the parties to the dispute agree to participate in a mediation in relation to the dispute but before the date that such mediation ends.
(4) Where subsection (3) applies, the period is extended so that it expires on the date falling 8 weeks after the date on which the mediation ends.
(5) For the purpose of this section, mediation in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute ends when any of the following occurs—
(a) all of the parties reach an agreement in resolution of the dispute;
(b) all of the parties agree to end the mediation;
(c) a party withdraws from the mediation, which is the date on which—
(i) a party informs all of the other parties of that party’s withdrawal,
(ii) in the case of a mediation involving 2 parties, 14 days expire after a request made by one party to the other party for confirmation of whether the other party has withdrawn, if the other party does not respond in that period, or
(iii) in the case of a mediation involving more than 2 parties, a party informs all of the remaining parties that the party received no response in the 14 days after a request to another party for confirmation of whether the other party had withdrawn; or
(d) a period of 14 days expires after the date on which the mediator’s tenure ends (by reason of death, resignation or otherwise), if a replacement mediator has not been appointed.
(6) In this section—
 “the Directive” means Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21st May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters;
 “mediation” and “mediator” have the meanings given by Article 3 of the Directive; and
 “relevant cross-border dispute” means a cross-border dispute within the meaning given by Article 2 of the Directive which is about the recovery of property to which this section applies.”.
8 

(1) The Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) In section 37(3), at the beginning, insert “Subject to section 37A(1) below”.
(3) After section 37 insert—“
37A. 

(1) The two year period calculated in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute for the purposes of section 37(3) above is extended where it would, apart from this subsection, expire—
(a) in the 8 weeks after the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends;
(b) on the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends; or
(c) after the date when all of the parties to the dispute agree to participate in a mediation in relation to the dispute but before the date that such mediation ends.
(2) Where subsection (1) applies, the period is extended so that it expires on the date falling 8 weeks after the date on which the mediation ends.
(3) For the purpose of this section, mediation in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute ends when any of the following occurs—
(a) all of the parties reach an agreement in resolution of the dispute;
(b) all of the parties agree to end the mediation;
(c) a party withdraws from the mediation, which is the date on which—
(i) a party informs all of the other parties of that party’s withdrawal,
(ii) in the case of a mediation involving 2 parties, 14 days expire after a request made by one party to the other party for confirmation of whether the other party has withdrawn, if the other party does not respond in that period, or
(iii) in the case of a mediation involving more than 2 parties, a party informs all of the remaining parties that the party received no response in the 14 days after a request to another party for confirmation of whether the other party had withdrawn; or
(d) a period of 14 days expires after the date on which the mediator’s tenure ends (by reason of death, resignation or otherwise), if a replacement mediator has not been appointed.
(4) In this section—
 “the Directive” means Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21st May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters;
 “mediation” and “mediator” have the meanings given by Article 3 of the Directive; and
 “relevant cross-border dispute” means a cross-border dispute within the meaning given by Article 2 of the Directive which is about an amount referred to in section 37(1) above.”.
9 

(1) The Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) In section 28(8), at the beginning, insert “Subject to section 29A,”.
(3) In section 29(6), at the beginning, insert “Subject to section 29A,”.
(4) After section 29 insert—“
29A. 

(1) This section applies to the calculation of—
(a) the one year period for the purposes of section 28(8) in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute; and
(b) the 6 month period for the purposes of section 29(6) in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute.
(2) A period referred to in subsection (1) is extended where it would, apart from this subsection, expire—
(a) in the 8 weeks after the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends;
(b) on the date that a mediation in relation to the dispute ends; or
(c) after the date when all of the parties to the dispute agree to participate in a mediation in relation to the dispute but before the date that such mediation ends.
(3) Where subsection (2) applies, the period is extended so that it expires on the date falling 8 weeks after the date on which the mediation ends.
(4) For the purposes of this section, mediation in relation to a relevant cross-border dispute ends when any of the following occurs—
(a) all of the parties reach an agreement in resolution of the dispute;
(b) all of the parties agree to end the mediation;
(c) a party withdraws from the mediation, which is the date on which—
(i) a party informs all of the other parties of that party’s withdrawal,
(ii) in the case of a mediation involving 2 parties, 14 days expire after a request made by one party to the other party for confirmation of whether the other party has withdrawn, if the other party does not respond in that period, or
(iii) in the case of a mediation involving more than 2 parties, a party informs all of the remaining parties that the party received no response in the 14 days after a request to another party for confirmation of whether the other party had withdrawn; or
(d) a period of 14 days expires after the date on which the mediator’s tenure ends (by reason of death, resignation or otherwise), if a replacement mediator has not been appointed.
(5) In this section—
 “the Directive” means Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21st May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters;
 “mediation” and “mediator” have the meanings given by Article 3 of the Directive; and
 “relevant cross-border dispute” means a cross-border dispute within the meaning given by Article 2 of the Directive which is about—
(a) a sum which a court may order to be paid under section 28(2);
(b) a sum which a court may order to be paid under section 29(2); or
(c) property which a court may order to be transferred under section 29(2).”.
FERGUS EWING
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
21st March 2011