Interpretation Act 1978
Every section of an Act takes effect as a substantive enactment without introductory words.
Any Act may be amended or repealed in the Session of Parliament in which it is passed.
Every Act is a public Act to be judicially noticed as such, unless the contrary is expressly provided by the Act.
An Act or provision of an Act comes into force—
where provision is made for it to come into force on a particular day, at the beginning of that day;
where no provision is made for its coming into force, at the beginning of the day on which the Act receives the Royal Assent.
In any Act, unless the contrary intention appears, words and expressions listed in Schedule 1 to this Act are to be construed according to that Schedule.
In any Act, unless the contrary intention appears,—
words importing the masculine gender include the feminine;
words importing the feminine gender include the masculine;
words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.
Where an Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post (whether the expression “serve” or the expression “give” or “send” or any other expression is used) then, unless the contrary intention appears, the service is deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the document and, unless the contrary is proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of an Act, that distance shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane.
Subject to section 3 of the Summer Time Act 1972 (construction of references to points of time during the period of summer time), whenever an expression of time occurs in an Act, the time referred to shall, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, be held to be Greenwich mean time.
In any Act a reference to the Sovereign reigning at the time of the passing of the Act is to be construed, unless the contrary intention appears, as a reference to the Sovereign for the time being.
Where an Act confers power to make subordinate legislation, expressions used in that legislation have, unless the contrary intention appears, the meaning which they bear in the Act.
Where an Act confers a power or imposes a duty it is implied, unless the contrary intention appears, that the power may be exercised, or the duty is to be performed, from time to time as occasion requires.
Where an Act confers a power or imposes a duty on the holder of an office as such, it is implied, unless the contrary intention appears, that the power may be exercised, or the duty is to be performed, by the holder for the time being of the office.
Where an Act which (or any provision of which) does not come into force immediately on its passing confers power to make subordinate legislation, or to make appointments, give notices, prescribe forms or do any other thing for the purposes of the Act, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the power may be exercised, and any instrument made thereunder may be made so as to come into force, at any time after the passing of the Act so far as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose—
of bringing the Act or any provision of the Act into force; or
of giving full effect to the Act or any such provision at or after the time when it comes into force.
Where an Act confers power to make— it implies, unless the contrary intention appears, a power, exercisable in the same manner and subject to the same conditions or limitations, to revoke, amend or re-enact any instrument made under the power.
rules, regulations or byelaws; or
Orders in Council, orders or other subordinate legislation to be made by statutory instrument,
This section applies where an Act confers a power or a duty on a person to make subordinate legislation except to the extent that—
the power or duty is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers, or
the power or duty is exercisable by any other person within devolved competence (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998).
The subordinate legislation may include—
provision requiring the person to review the effectiveness of the legislation within a specified period or at the end of a specified period;
provision for the legislation to cease to have effect at the end of a specified day or a specified period;
if the power or duty is being exercised to amend other subordinate legislation, provision of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) in relation to that other legislation.
The provision that may be made by virtue of subsection (2)(a) includes provision requiring the person to consider whether the objectives which it was the purpose of the legislation to achieve remain appropriate and, if so, whether they could be achieved in another way.
Subordinate legislation including provision of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) may make such provision generally or only in relation to specified provisions of the legislation or specified cases or circumstances.
Subordinate legislation including provision of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) may make transitional, consequential, incidental or supplementary provision or savings in connection with such provision.
In this section, “specified” means specified in the subordinate legislation.
Where an Act repeals a repealing enactment, the repeal does not revive any enactment previously repealed unless words are added reviving it.
Without prejudice to section 15, where an Act repeals an enactment, the repeal does not, unless the contrary intention appears,— and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the repealing Act had not been passed.
revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect;
affect the previous operation of the enactment repealed or anything duly done or suffered under that enactment;
affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under that enactment;
affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against that enactment;
affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment;
This section applies to the expiry of a temporary enactment as if it were repealed by an Act.
Where an Act repeals a previous enactment and substitutes provisions for the enactment repealed, the repealed enactment remains in force until the substituted provisions come into force.
Where an Act repeals and re-enacts, with or without modification, a previous enactment then, unless the contrary intention appears,—
any reference in any other enactment to the enactment so repealed shall be construed as a reference to the provision re-enacted;
in so far as any subordinate legislation made or other thing done under the enactment so repealed, or having effect as if so made or done, could have been made or done under the provision re-enacted, it shall have effect as if made or done under that provision.
Where an act or omission constitutes an offence under two or more Acts, or both under an Act and at common law, the offender shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be liable to be prosecuted and punished under either or any of those Acts or at common law, but shall not be liable to be punished more than once for the same offence.
Where an Act cites another Act by year, statute, session or chapter, or a section or other portion of another Act by number or letter, the reference shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be read as referring—
in the case of Acts included in any revised edition of the statutes printed by authority, to that edition;
in the case of Acts not so included but included in the edition prepared under the direction of the Record Commission, to that edition;
in any other case, to the Acts printed by the Queen’s Printer, or under the superintendence or authority of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
An Act may continue to be cited by the short title authorised by any enactment notwithstanding the repeal of that enactment.
Where an Act describes or cites a portion of an enactment by referring to words, sections or other parts from or to which (or from and to which) the portion extends, the portion described or cited includes the words, sections or other parts referred to unless the contrary intention appears.
Where an Act refers to an enactment, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that enactment as amended, and includes a reference thereto as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including any other provision of that Act.
Where— the reference, unless the contrary intention appears and so far as required for the purposes of relevant separation agreement law, is a reference to the treaty, instrument or document as it so has effect (including, so far as so required, as it has effect from time to time).
an Act passed on or after IP completion day refers to any treaty relating to the EU or any instrument or other document of an EU entity, and
the treaty, instrument or document has effect by virtue of section 7A or 7B of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (general implementation of remainder of EU withdrawal agreement etc.),
Subject to subsection (2A), where an Act passed on or after IP completion day refers to any EU regulation, EU decision, EU tertiary legislation or provision of the EEA agreement, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to the EU regulation, EU decision, EU tertiary legislation or provision of the EEA agreement as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 or section 1 of the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020.
Subsection (3) does not determine any question as to whether the reference is to be read as a reference to the EU regulation, EU decision, EU tertiary legislation or provision of the EEA agreement as modified by domestic law (and, accordingly, is without prejudice to subsection (2)).
Any expression in subsections (2A) to (4) which is defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 has the same meaning in the subsection concerned as in that Act.
In this section, “treaty” includes any international agreement (and any protocol or annex to a treaty or international agreement).
Where an Act passed after the commencement of this section refers to a EU instrument that has been amended, extended or applied by another such instrument, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that instrument as so amended, extended or applied.
In this Act “Act” includes a local and personal or private Act; and “subordinate legislation” means Orders in Council, orders, rules, regulations, schemes, warrants, byelaws and other instruments made or to be made under any Act or made or to be made on or after IP completion day under any assimilated direct legislation other than assimilated direct CAP legislation as so defined or made or to be made on or after exit day under assimilated direct CAP legislation as defined in section 2 of the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020.
This Act binds the Crown.
This Act applies to itself, to any Act passed after the commencement of this Act (subject , in the case of section 20(2A) to (6), to the provision made in section 20(2A) or (3) and, in the case of section 20A, to the provision made in that section) and, to the extent specified in Part I of Schedule 2, to Acts passed before the commencement of this Act.
In any of the foregoing provisions of this Act a reference to an Act is a reference to an Act to which that provision applies; but this does not affect the generality of references to enactments or of the references in section 19(1) to other Acts.
This Act applies to Measures of the General Synod of the Church of England (and, so far as it relates to Acts passed before the commencement of this Act, to Measures of the Church Assembly passed after 28th May 1925) as it applies to Acts.
The provisions of this Act, except sections 1 to 3 and 4(b), apply, so far as applicable and unless the contrary intention appears, to subordinate legislation made after the commencement of this Act and, to the extent specified in Part II of Schedule 2, to subordinate legislation made before the commencement of this Act, as they apply to Acts.
In the application of this Act to Acts passed or subordinate legislation made after the commencement of this Act, all references to an enactment include an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation whenever made, and references to the passing or repeal of an enactment are to be construed accordingly.
Sections 9 and 19(1) also apply to deeds and other instruments and documents as they apply to Acts and subordinate legislation; and in the application of section 17(2)(a) to Acts passed or subordinate legislation made after the commencement of this Act, the reference to any other enactment includes any deed or other instrument or document.
Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to Orders in Council made under section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946, section 1(3) of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 or Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974.
This Act extends to Northern Ireland so far as it applies to Acts or subordinate legislation which so extend.
In the application of this Act to Acts passed or subordinate legislation made after the commencement of this Act, all references to an enactment include an enactment comprised in Northern Ireland legislation whenever passed or made; and in relation to such legislation references to the passing or repeal of an enactment include the making or revocation of an Order in Council.
In the application of section 14 to Acts passed after the commencement of this Act which extend to Northern Ireland, “statutory instrument” includes statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.
The following definitions contained in Schedule 1, namely those of— ... The Communities ...; The Corporation Tax Acts; E.C.S.C. Treaty; E.E.C. Treaty; EEA agreement and EEA state; Entry date; The EU or the European Union; EU institution; EU instrument; Euratom, Economic Community and Coal and Steel Community; Euratom Treaty; European Court; The Income Tax Acts; Member (in the expression “member State”); The Tax Acts ; The Treaties or the EU Treaties, apply, unless the contrary intention appears, to Northern Ireland legislation as they apply to Acts.
Section 20A applies to Northern Ireland legislation as it applies to Acts.
In this section “Northern Ireland legislation” means—
Acts of the Parliament of Ireland;
Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;
Orders in Council under section 1(3) of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972;
Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly established under section 1 of the Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973;
Orders in Council under Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974;
Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and
Orders in Council under section 85 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The provisions of this Act (except sections 1 to 4, 13 and 19(2)) apply, so far as applicable and unless the contrary intention appears, to any assimilated direct legislation so far as it— as they apply to an Act passed at the corresponding time.
is amended by an Act, subordinate legislation or devolution legislation, and
is not subordinate legislation,
In their application by virtue of subsection (1)—
section 10 has effect as if the reference to the passing of the Act were a reference to the corresponding time,
section 11 has effect as if the second reference to an Act included a reference to the assimilated direct legislation so far as unamended (as well as a reference to that legislation so far as amended), and
section 16(1) has effect as if the reference to the repealing Act not being passed were a reference to the repeal not having been made.
References in this Act to the repeal of an enactment are to be read, in the case of an enactment which is assimilated direct legislation, as references to the revocation of the enactment.
In Schedule 1—
in the definition of “Commencement”, the references to an enactment do not include any assimilated direct legislation other than—
any such legislation to which subsection (1) applies, ...
any instrument made on or after exit day under assimilated direct CAP legislation as defined in section 2 of the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020, or
any instrument , not falling within sub-paragraph (ia), made on or after IP completion day under any assimilated direct legislation, and
in the definitions of “The Corporation Tax Acts” and “The Income Tax Acts”, the references to an enactment do not include any assimilated direct legislation.
For the application of this Act to assimilated direct legislation which is subordinate legislation, see section 23(1) and (2).
In this section—
“devolution legislation” means—
an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
Northern Ireland legislation (for the meaning of which see section 24(5)), or
an instrument made under anything falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
The enactments described in Schedule 3 are repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
Without prejudice to section 17(2)(a), a reference to the Interpretation Act 1889, to any provision of that Act or to any other enactment repealed by this Act, whether occurring in another Act, in subordinate legislation, in Northern Ireland legislation or in any deed or other instrument or document, shall be construed as referring to this Act, or to the corresponding provision of this Act, as it applies to Acts passed at the time of the reference.
The provisions of this Act relating to Acts passed after any particular time do not affect the construction of Acts passed before that time, though continued or amended by Acts passed thereafter.
This Act applies in relation to an Act of the Scottish Parliament and an instrument made under such an Act only to the extent provided in this section.
Except as provided in subsection (3) below, sections 15 to 18 apply to—
an Act of the Scottish Parliament as they apply to an Act,
an instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament as they apply to subordinate legislation.
In the application of those sections to an Act and to subordinate legislation—
references to an enactment include an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament, and
the reference in section 17(2)(b) to subordinate legislation includes an instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
In the application of section 20 to an Act and to subordinate legislation, references to an enactment include an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
This Act shall come into force on 1st January 1979.
The provisions of this Act, except sections 1 to 3, apply to the following as they apply to an Act—
a Measure of the National Assembly for Wales, and
an Act of the National Assembly for Wales, other than the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019, which receives Royal Assent before 1 January 2020 (the day on which Part 2 of that Act comes fully into force).
The provisions of this Act apply to an instrument— as they apply to other subordinate legislation.
made under a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, and
made before 1 January 2020,
The provisions of this Act apply to an instrument made under an Act of Parliament or assimilated direct legislation, and made by the Welsh Ministers or any other devolved Welsh authority, only if—
the instrument is made before 1 January 2020,
the instrument is made (at any time) with any other person who is not a devolved Welsh authority, or
the instrument contains any provision that applies otherwise than in relation to Wales.
Nothing in subsection (2) or (3) limits the operation of sections 12 to 14A in relation to a power or duty to make an instrument to which Part 2 of the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 applies, but section 11 does not apply in relation to such an instrument.
In the application of this Act to a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, references to the passing of an Act or an enactment are to be read as references to the enactment of the Measure or Act.
In this section, “devolved Welsh authority” , “Welsh zone” and (subject to subsection (7)) “Wales” have the same meanings as in the Government of Wales Act 2006 (see sections 157A and 158 of that Act).
In relation to a provision that— “Wales” includes the area of the Welsh zone beyond the seaward limit of the territorial sea.
relates to fishing, fisheries or fish health, and
is contained in an instrument made after section 45 of the Fisheries Act 2020 comes into force,
This Act may be cited as the Interpretation Act 1978.
In this Act, references to an enactment include an enactment comprised in— but the reference in section 16(2) to a temporary enactment does not include an enactment comprised in legislation to which Part 2 of the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 applies (see section 3(1) of that Act).
a Measure of the National Assembly for Wales,
an Act of the National Assembly for Wales (whenever the Act receives Royal Assent),
an instrument made under such an Act or Measure (whenever the instrument is made), or
an instrument made under an Act of Parliament or assimilated direct legislation, and made by the Welsh Ministers or any other devolved Welsh authority (whenever the instrument is made, and whether or not it is made with any other person),
In section 14(b), the reference to a statutory instrument includes a Welsh statutory instrument.
In section 17(2)(b), the reference to subordinate legislation includes an instrument to which Part 2 of the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 applies.
In section 18, the reference to an act or omission which constitutes an offence under two or more Acts includes an act or omission which constitutes an offence under— and the reference to “those Acts” is to be read accordingly.
any legislation to which that section applies, and
any legislation to which Part 2 of the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 applies,
In section 19(1), references to “another Act” include— and the reference in paragraph (c) to “Acts” is to be read accordingly.
a Measure of the National Assembly for Wales, and
an Act of the National Assembly for Wales (whenever the Act receives Royal Assent),
Section 5. Note: The years or dates which follow certain entries in this Schedule are relevant for the purposes of paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 (application to existing enactments).
in relation to Northern Ireland, by section 1 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.
in relation to England and Wales, the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 and the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts Amendment Act 1860, and any Acts for the time being in force amending those Acts ; [1889]
" Local land charges register ", in relation to England and Wales, means a register kept pursuant to section 3 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975, and " the appropriate local land charges register " has the meaning assigned by section 4 of that Act.
" indictable offence " means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable on indictment, whether it is exclusively so triable or triable either way ;
" The Privy Council " means the Lords and others of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.
" summary offence" means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable only summarily;
a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales,
" offence triable either way" means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable either on indictment or summarily;
" British Islands " means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. [1889]
" The Tax Acts " means the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 and all other provisions of the Income Tax Acts and the Corporation Tax Acts. [12th March 1970]
“corresponding time” means the time when the amending Act, subordinate legislation or devolution legislation was passed or (as the case may be) made, and
" Rules of Court " in relation to any court means rules made by the authority having power to make rules or orders regulating the practice and procedure of that court, and in Scotland includes Acts of Adjournal and Acts of Sederunt; and the power of the authority to make rules of court (as above defined) includes power to make such rules for the purpose of any Act which directs or authorises anything to be done by rules of court. [1889]
In relation to England and Wales the following expressions and references, namely— are to be construed in accordance with Part IV of that Act. [12th November 1975]
the expression " the parental rights and duties ";
the expression "legal custody" in relation to a child (as defined in the Children Act 1975); and
any reference to the person with whom a child (as so defined) has his home,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In relation to England and Wales— and the terms “indictable”, “summary” and “triable either way”, in their application to offences, are to be construed accordingly. In the above definitions references to the way or ways in which an offence is triable are to be construed without regard to the effect, if any, of section 22 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 on the mode of trial in a particular case. In relation to a term of imprisonment in respect of an offence triable either way under the law of England and Wales, “general limit in a magistrates’ court” means the limit laid down in respect of the offence by section 224(1) of the Sentencing Code (as it has effect from time to time).
“indictable offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable on indictment, whether it is exclusively so triable or triable either way;
“summary offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable only summarily;
“offence triable either way” means an offence , other than an offence triable on indictment only by virtue of Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which, if committed by an adult, is triable either on indictment or summarily;
In relation to England and Wales— references (however expressed) to any relationship between two persons; references to a person whose father and mother were or were not married to , or civil partners of, each other at the time of his birth; and references cognate with references falling within paragraph (b) above, shall be construed in accordance with section 1 of the Family Law Reform Act 1987. [The date of the coming into force of that section]
In relation to Scotland—
references to a police force include references to the Police Service of Scotland;
references to a chief officer of police include references to the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;
“police authority” means the Scottish Police Authority;
the “police area” of the Police Service of Scotland is Scotland and references to a police force or police authority for any area include references to the Police Service of Scotland or, as the case may be, the Scottish Police Authority;
references to a constable or chief constable of, or appointed for, any area are to be construed as references to a constable or, as the case may be, the chief constable of, or appointed for, the Police Service of Scotland.
“Assimilated law”, “assimilated direct legislation”, “assimilated direct minor legislation” and “assimilated direct principal legislation” have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (see sections 6(7) and 20(1) of that Act) (see also paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 and section 5 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023). “Assimilated obligation” means an obligation that— was created or arose by or under the EU Treaties before IP completion day, and forms part of assimilated law, as modified from time to time. “The Communities” means Euratom, the Economic Community and the Coal and Steel Community, but a reference to any or all of those Communities is to be treated as being or including (as the context requires) a reference to the EU. “E.C.S.C. Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, signed at Paris on 18 April 1951. “EEA agreement” means the agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2 May 1992, together with the Protocol adjusting that Agreement signed at Brussels on 17 March 1993, as modified or supplemented from time to time, but does not include any assimilated direct legislation. [8 January 2007] “EEA state”, in relation to a time, means— a state which at that time is a member State, or any other state which at that time is a party to the EEA agreement. [8 January 2007] “E.E.C. Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, signed at Rome on 25 March 1957. “Entry date” means the date on which the United Kingdom became a member of the Communities (which neither includes nor is a reference to the EU). “The EU” or “the European Union” means the European Union, being the Union established by the Treaty on European Union signed at Maastricht on 7 February 1992 (as amended by any later Treaty); and includes, so far as the context permits or requires, Euratom. “EU institution” means any institution of the EU. “EU instrument” means any instrument issued by an EU institution other than any assimilated direct legislation. “Euratom”, “Economic Community” and “Coal and Steel Community” mean respectively the European Atomic Energy Community, the European Economic Community and the European Coal and Steel Community (but see the definition of “the Communities” for provision as to the construction of references to those Communities). “Euratom Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, signed at Rome on 25 March 1957. “European Court” means the Court of Justice of the European Union. “EU withdrawal agreement” means the withdrawal agreement within the meaning of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 39(1) and (6) of that Act). “Exit day” (and related expressions) have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (see section 20(1) to (5) of that Act). “IP completion day” (and related expressions) have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 39(1) to (5) of that Act). “Member”, in the expression “member State”, refers to membership of the EU. ... ... “The Treaties” or “the EU Treaties” means the Treaties or EU Treaties as at immediately before IP completion day and within the meaning given by section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 as that Act had effect immediately before IP completion day.
Sections 22, 23.
The following provisions of this Act apply to Acts whenever passed:— Section 6(a) and (c) so far as applicable to enactments relating to offences punishable on indictment or on summary conviction Section 9 Section 10 Section 11 so far as it relates to subordinate legislation made after the year 1889 Section 14A Section 18 Section 19(2).
The following apply to Acts passed after the year 1850:— Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 6(a) and (c) so far as not applicable to such Acts by virtue of paragraph 1 Section 15 Section 17(1).
The following apply to Acts passed after the year 1889:— Section 4 Section 7 Section 8 Section 12 Section 13 Section 14 so far as it relates to rules, regulations or byelaws Section 16(1) Section 17(2)(a) Section 19(1) Section 20(1).
Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph— The definition of “British Islands”, in its application to Acts passed after the establishment of the Irish Free State but before the commencement of this Act, includes the Republic of Ireland. The definition of “colony”, in its application to an Act passed at any time before the commencement of this Act, includes— and paragraph (b) of the definition does not apply. The definition of “Lord Chancellor” does not apply to Acts passed before 1st October 1921 in which that expression was used in relation to Ireland only. The definition of “person”, so far as it includes bodies corporate, applies to any provision of an Act whenever passed relating to an offence punishable on indictment or on summary conviction. This paragraph applies to . . . the Water Act 1973 as if they were passed after 1st April 1974.
The following definitions shall be treated as included in Schedule 1 for the purposes specified in this paragraph—
in any Act passed before 1st April 1974, a reference to England includes Berwick upon Tweed and Monmouthshire and, in the case of an Act passed before the Welsh Language Act 1967, Wales;
in any Act passed before the commencement of this Act and after the year 1850, “land” includes messuages, tenements and hereditaments, houses and buildings of any tenure;
in any Act passed before the commencement of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975, “the Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Acts” means Part II of that Act.
Sections 4(a), 9 and 19(1), and so much of Schedule 1 as defines the following expressions, namely— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . England; Local land charges register and appropriate local land charges register; in relation to Scotland, expressions relating to the police; United Kingdom; Wales, apply to subordinate legislation made at any time before the commencement of this Act as they apply to Acts passed at that time.
The definition in Schedule 1 of “county court”, in relation to England and Wales, applies to Orders in Council made after the year 1846.
The definition in Schedule 1 of “enactment”, in so far as it relates to assimilated direct legislation, applies to subordinate legislation made at any time before the commencement of this Act as it applies to Acts passed at that time.
Section 25.