When a party formally discloses a document in civil proceedings, by stating that it exists or has existed, its opponent has the right to inspect the document, subject to limited exceptions set out in CPR 31.3(1) (for example, if the document is no longer in the control of the party who disclosed it, or if the disclosing party has a right or duty to withhold inspection).
A party with the right to inspect a document must give the disclosing party written notice of its wish to inspect it. The disclosing party must permit inspection not more than seven days after receipt of the notice (CPR 31.15(b)).
A party who has a right to inspect a document may also request a copy and, if it undertakes to pay reasonable copying costs, the party who disclosed the document must provide a copy not more than seven days after the date on which it received the request (CPR 31.15(c)).