(1)    The Lord Chancellor may by order provide that appeals which would otherwise lie to—

(a)    a county court,

(b)    the High Court, or

(c)    the Court of Appeal,

shall lie instead to another of those courts, as specified in the order.

(2)    This section does not apply to an appeal in a criminal cause or matter.

(3)    An order under subsection (1)—

(a)    may make different provision for different classes of proceedings or appeals, and

(b)    may contain consequential amendments or repeals of enactments.

(4)    Before making an order under subsection (1) the Lord Chancellor shall consult—

(a)    the Lord Chief Justice,

(b)    the Master of the Rolls,

(c)    the President of the Family Division, and

(d)    the Vice-Chancellor.

(5)    An order under subsection (1) shall be made by statutory instrument.

(6)    No such order may be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(7)    For the purposes of this section an application to have a case stated for the opinion of the High Court constitutes an appeal.