Interpretation Act 1978

by the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Layout 2

Interpretation Act 1978

CHAPTER 30

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

General provisions as to enactment and operation
Section
1.	Words of enactment.
2.	Amendment or repeal in same Session.
3.	Judicial notice.
4.	Time of commencement.
Interpretation and construction
5.	Definitions.
6.	Gender and number.
7.	References to service by post.
8.	References to distance.
9.	References to time of day.
10.	References to the Sovereign.
11.	Construction of subordinate legislation.
Statutory powers and duties
12.	Continuity of powers and duties.
13.	Anticipatory exercise of powers.
14.	Implied power to amend.
Repealing enactments
15.	Repeal of repeals.
16.	General savings.
17.	Repeal and re-enactment.
Miscellaneous
18.	Duplicated offences.
19.	Citation of other Acts.
20.	References to other enactments.
Supplementary
21.	Interpretation etc.
22.	Application to Acts and Measures.
23.	Application to other instruments.
24.	Application to Northern Ireland.
25.	Repeals and savings.
26.	Commencement.
27.	Short title.
	Schedules:
	Schedule 1—Words and expressions defined.
	Schedule 2—Application of Act to existing enactments.
	⁠Part I—Acts.
	⁠Part II—Subordinate legislation.
	Schedule 3—Enactments repealed.

Interpretation Act 1978

1978 CHAPTER 30

An Act to consolidate the Interpretation Act 1889 and certain other enactments relating to the construction and operation of Acts of Parliament and other instruments, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.[20th July 1978]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

General provisions as to enactment and operation

Words of enactment. 1. Every section of an Act takes effect as a substantive enactment without introductory words.

Amendment or repeal in same Session. 2. Any Act may be amended or repealed in the Session of Parliament in which it is passed.

Judicial notice. 3. Every Act is a public Act to be judicially noticed as such, unless the contrary is expressly provided by the Act.

Time of commencement. 4. An Act or provision of an Act comes into force—

(a) where provision is made for it to come into force on a particular day, at the beginning of that day;

(b) where no provision is made for its coming into force, at the beginning of the day on which the Act receives the Royal Assent.

Interpretation and construction

Definitions. 5. 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.

Gender and number. 6. In any Act, unless the contrary intention appears,—

(a) words importing the masculine gender include the feminine;

(b) words importing the feminine gender include the masculine;

(c) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.

References to service by post. 7. 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.

References to distance. 8. 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.

References to time of day.
1972 c. 6. 9. Subject to section 3 of the Summer Time Act 1972 (construction of references to point 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.

References to the Sovereign. 10. 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.

Construction of subordinate legislation. 11. 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.

Statutory powers and duties

Continuity of powers and duties. 12.—(1) 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.

(2) 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.

Anticipatory exercise of powers. 13. 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—

(a) of bringing the Act or any provision of the Act into force; or

(b) of giving full effect to the Act or any such provision at or after the time when it comes into force.

Implied power to amend. 14. Where an Act confers power to make—

(a) rules, regulations or byelaws; or

(b) Orders in Council, orders or other subordinate legislation to be made by statutory instrument,

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.

Repealing enactments

Repeal of repeal. 15. Where an Act repeals a repealing enactment, the repeal does not revive any enactment previously repealed unless words are added reviving it.

General savings. 16.—(1) Without prejudice to section 15, where an Act repeals an enactment, the repeal does not, unless the contrary intention appears,—

(a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect;

(b) affect the previous operation of the enactment repealed or anything duly done or suffered under that enactment;

(c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under that enactment;

(d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against that enactment;

(e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment;

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.

(2) This section applies to the expiry of a temporary enactment as if it were repealed by an Act.

Repeal and re-enactment. 17.—(1) 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.

(2) Where an Act repeals and re-enacts, with or without modification, a previous enactment then, unless the contrary intention appears,—

(a) any reference in any other enactment to the enactment so repealed shall be construed as a reference to the provision re-enacted;

(b) 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.

Miscellaneous

Duplicated offences. 18. 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.

Citation of other Acts. 19.—(1) 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—

(a) in the case of Acts included in any revised edition of the statutes printed by authority, to that edition;

(b) in the case of Acts not so included but included in the edition prepared under the direction of the Record Commission, to that edition;

(c) 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.

(2) An Act may continue to be cited by the short title authorised by any enactment notwithstanding the repeal of that enactment.

References to other enactments. 20.—(1) 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.

(2) 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.

Supplementary

Interpretation etc. 21.—(1) 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.

(2) This Act binds the Crown.

Application to Acts and Measures. 22.—(1) This Act applies to itself, to any Act passed after the commencement of this Act and, to the extent specified in Part I of Schedule 2, to Acts passed before the commencement of this Act.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

Application to other instruments. 23.—(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to Orders in Council made under section 5 of the 1946 c. 36.
1972 c. 22.
1974 c. 28.Statutory Instruments Act 1946, section 1(3) of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 or Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974.

Application to Northern Ireland. 24.—(1) This Act extends to Northern Ireland so far as it applies to Acts or subordinate legislation which so extend.

(2) 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.

(3) 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 1958 c. 18 (N.I.).Statutory Rules Act (Northern Ireland) 1958.

(4) The following definitions contained in Schedule 1, namely those of—

British subject and Commonwealth citizen;

The Communities and related expressions;

The Corporation Tax Acts;

The Income Tax Acts;

The Tax Acts,

apply, unless the contrary intention appears, to Northern Ireland legislation as they apply to Acts.

(5) In this section “Northern Ireland legislation” means—

(a) Acts of the Parliament of Ireland;

(b) Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;

(c) Orders in Council under section 1(3) of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972;

(d) Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and

(e) Orders in Council under Schedule 1 to the 1974 c. 28.Northern Ireland Act 1974.

Repeals and savings. 25.—(1) The enactments described in Schedule 3 are repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

(2) Without prejudice to section 17(2)(a), a reference to the 1889 c. 63.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.

(3) 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.

Commencement. 26. This Act shall come into force on 1st January 1979.

Short title. 27. This Act may be cited as the Interpretation Act 1978.

SCHEDULES

Section 5.

SCHEDULE 1
Words and Expressions Defined

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).

Definitions

“Associated state” means a territory maintaining a status of association with the United Kingdom in accordance with the 1967 c. 4.West Indies Act 1967. [16th February 1967]

“Bank of England” means, as the context requires, the Governor and Company of the Bank of England or the bank of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.

“Bank of Ireland” means, as the context requires, the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland or the bank of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland.

“British Islands” means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. [1889]

“British possession” means any part of Her Majesty’s dominions outside the United Kingdom; and where parts of such dominions are under both a central and a local legislature, all parts under the central legislature are deemed, for the purposes of this definition, to be one British possession. [1889]

“British subject” and “Commonwealth citizen” have the same meaning, that is—

(a) a person who under the 1948 c. 56.British Nationality Act 1948 is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or who under any enactment for the time being in force in a country mentioned in section 1(3) of that Act is a citizen of that country; and

(b) any other person who has the status of a British subject under that Act or any subsequent enactment.

“Building regulations”, in relation to England and Wales, means regulations made under section 61(1) of the 1936 c. 49.Public Health Act 1936.

“Central funds”, in an enactment providing in relation to England and Wales for the payment of costs out of central funds, means money provided by Parliament.

“Charity Commissioners” means the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales referred to in section 1 of the 1960 c. 58.Charities Act 1960.

“Church Commissioners” means the Commissioners constituted by the 1947 C.A.M. No. 2.Church Commissioners Measure 1947.

“Colonial legislature”, and “legislature” in relation to a British possession, mean the authority, other than the Parliament of the United Kingdom or Her Majesty in Council, competent to make laws for the possession. [1889]

“Colony” means any part of Her Majesty’s dominions outside the British Islands except—

(a) countries having fully responsible status within the Commonwealth;

(b) territories for whose external relations a country other than the United Kingdom is responsible;

(c) associated states;

and where parts of such dominions are under both a central and a local legislature, all parts under the central legislature are deemed for the purposes of this definition to be one colony. [1889]

“Commencement”, in relation to an Act or enactment, means the time when the Act or enactment comes into force.

“Committed for trial” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, committed in custody or on bail by a magistrates’ court pursuant to section 7 of the 1952 c. 55.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952, or by any judge or other authority having power to do so, with a view to trial before a judge and jury; [1889]

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, committed in custody or on bail by a magistrates’ court pursuant to section 45 of the 1964 c. 21 (N.I.).Magistrates’ Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, or by a court, judge, resident magistrate, justice of the peace or other authority having power to do so, with a view to trial on indictment. [1st January 1979]

“The Communities”, “the Treaties” or “the Community Treaties” and other expressions defined by section 1 of and Schedule 1 to the 1972 c. 68.European Communities Act 1972 have the meanings prescribed by that Act.

“Comptroller and Auditor General” means the Comptroller-General of the receipt and issue of Her Majesty’s Exchequer and Auditor-General of Public Accounts appointed in pursuance of the 1866 c. 39.Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866.

“Consular officer” has the meaning assigned by Article 1 of the Vienna Convention set out in Schedule 1 to the 1968 c. 18.Consular Relations Act 1968.

“The Corporation Tax Acts” means—

(a) Parts X and XI of the 1970 c. 10.Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970;

(b) all other provisions of that or any other Act relating to corporation tax or to any other matter dealt with in Part X or Part XI of that Act;

(c) all the provisions of Part IV of the 1965 c. 25.Finance Act 1965 and of any other enactment which, at the passing of the said Act of 1970, formed part of or was to be construed with the Corporation Tax Acts.

“County court” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, a court held for a district under the 1959 c. 22.County Courts Act 1959; [1846]

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, a court held for a division under the 1959 c. 25 (N.I.).County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959. [1889]

“Court of Appeal” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, Her Majesty’s Court of Appeal in England;

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, Her Majesty’s Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.

“Court of summary jurisdiction”, “summary conviction” and “Summary Jurisdiction Acts”, in relation to Northern Ireland, have the same meanings as in Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

“Crown Court” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, the Crown Court constituted by section 4 of the 1971 c. 23.Courts Act 1971;

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, the Crown Court constituted by section 4 of the 1978 c. 23.Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

“Crown Estate Commissioners” means the Commissioners referred to in secton 1 of the 1961 c. 55.Crown Estate Act 1961.

“England” means, subject to any alteration of boundaries under Part IV of the 1972 c. 70.Local Government Act 1972, the area consisting of the counties established by section 1 of that Act, Greater London and the Isles of Scilly. [1st April 1974].

“Financial year” means, in relation to matters relating to the Consolidated Fund, the National Loans Fund, or moneys provided by Parliament, or to the Exchequer or to central taxes or finance, the twelve months ending with 31st March. [1889]

“Governor-General” includes any person who for the time being has the powers of the Governor-General, and “Governor”, in relation to any British possession, includes the officer for the time being administering the government of that possession. [1889]

“High Court” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in England;

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland.

“The Income Tax Acts” means all enactments relating to income tax, including any provisions of the Corporation Tax Acts which relate to income tax.

“Land” includes buildings and other structures, land covered with water, and any estate, interest, easement, servitude or right in or over land. [1st January 1979].

“Lands Clauses Acts” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, the 1845 c. 18.
1860 c. 106.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]

(b) in relation to Scotland, the 1845 c. 19.
1860 c. 106.Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 and the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts Amendment Act 1860, and any Acts for the time being in force amending those Acts; [1889]

(c) in relation to Northern Ireland, the enactments defined as such by section 46(1) of the 1954 c. 33 (N.I.).Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954. [1889]

“Local land charges register”, in relation to England and Wales, means a register kept pursuant to section 3 of the 1975 c. 76.Local Land Charges Act 1975, and “the appropriate local land charges register” has the meaning assigned by section 4 of that Act.

“London borough” means a borough described in Schedule 1 to the 1963 c. 33.London Government Act 1963, “inner London borough” means one of the boroughs so described and numbered from 1 to 12 and “outer London borough” means one of the boroughs so described and numbered from 13 to 32, subject (in each case) to any alterations made under Part IV of the 1972 c. 70.Local Government Act 1972.

“Lord Chancellor” means the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.

“Magistrates’ court” has the meaning assigned to it—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, by section 124 of the 1952 c. 55.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952;

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, by section 1 of the 1964 c. 21 (N.I.).Magistrates’ Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.

“Month” means calendar month. [1850]

“National Debt Commissioners” means the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt.

“Northern Ireland legislation” has the meaning assigned by section 24(5) of this Act. [1st January 1979]

“Oath” and “affidavit” include affirmation and declaration, and “swear” includes affirm and declare.

“Ordnance Map” means a map made under powers conferred by the 1841 c. 30.
1854 c. 17.Ordnance Survey Act 1841 or the Boundary Survey (Ireland) Act 1854.

“Parliamentary Election” means the election of a Member to serve in Parliament for a constituency. [1889]

“Person” includes a body of persons corporate or unincorporate. [1889]

“Police area”, “police authority” and other expressions relating to the police have the meaning or effect described—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, by section 62 of the 1964 c. 48.Police Act 1964;

(b) in relation to Scotland, by sections 50 and 51(4) of the 1967 c. 77.Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

“The Privy Council” means the Lords and others of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

“Registered medical practitioner” means a fully registered person within the meaning of the 1956 c. 76.Medical Act 1956. [1st January 1979]

“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]

“Secretary of State” means one of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State.

“Sheriff”, in relation to Scotland, includes sheriff principal. [1889]

“Statutory declaration” means a declaration made by virtue of the 1835 c. 62.Statutory Declarations Act 1835.

“Supreme Court” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, the Court of Appeal and the High Court together with the Crown Court;

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland.

“The Tax Acts” means the 1970 c. 10.Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 and all other provisions of the Income Tax Acts and the Corporation Tax Acts. [12th March 1970]

“The Treasury” means the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury.

“United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland. [12th April 1927]

“Wales” means, subject to any alteration of boundaries made under Part IV of the 1972 c. 70.Local Government Act 1972, the area consisting of the counties established by section 20 of that Act. [1st April 1974]

“Water authority”, in relation to England and Wales, means an authority established in accordance with section 2 of the 1973 c. 37.Water Act 1973; and “water authority area”, in relation to any functions of such an authority, means the area in respect of which the water authority are for the time being to exercise those functions.

“Writing” includes typing, printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, and expressions referring to writing are construed accordingly.

Construction of certain expressions relating to children

In relation to England and Wales the following expressions and references, namely—

(a) the expression “the parental rights and duties”;

(b) the expression “legal custody” in relation to a child (as defined in the 1975 c. 72.Children Act 1975); and

(c) any reference to the person with whom a child (as so defined) has his home,

are to be construed in accordance with Part IV of that Act. [12th November 1975]

Construction of certain expressions relating to offences

In relation to England and Wales—

(a) “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;

(b) “summary offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable only summarily;

(c) “offence triable either way” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable either on indictment or summarily;

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 23 of the 1977 c. 45.Criminal Law Act 1977 on the mode of trial in a particular case.

Sections 22, 23.

SCHEDULE 2
Application of Act to Existing Enactments

PART I
Acts

1. 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 18

Section 19(2).

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).

3. 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).

4.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph—

(a) paragraphs of Schedule 1 at the end of which a year or date earlier than the commencement of this Act is specified apply, so far as applicable, to Acts passed on or after the date, or after the year, so specified; and

(b) paragraphs of that Schedule at the end of which no year or date is specified apply, so far as applicable, to Acts passed at any time.

(2) 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.

(3) The definition of “colony”, in its application to an Act passed at any time before the commencement of this Act, includes—

(a) any colony within the meaning of section 18(3) of the 1889 c. 63.Interpretation Act 1889 which was excluded, but in relation only to Acts passed at a later time, by any enactment repealed by this Act;

(b) any country or territory which ceased after that time to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions but subject to a provision for the continuation of existing law as if it had not so ceased;

and paragraph (b) of the definition does not apply.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) This paragraph applies to the 1973 c. 32.
1973 c. 37.National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 and the Water Act 1973 as if they were passed after 1st April 1974.

5. The following definitions shall be treated as included in Schedule 1 for the purposes specified in this paragraph—

(a) 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 1967 c. 66.Welsh Language Act 1967, Wales;

(b) 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;

(c) in any Act passed before the commencement of the 1975 c. 21.Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975, “the Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Acts” means Part II of that Act.

PART II
Subordinate Legislation

6. Sections 4(a), 9 and 19(1), and so much of Schedule 1 as defines the following expressions, namely—

British subject and Commonwealth citizen;

England;

Local land charges register and appropriate local land charges register;

Police area (and related expressions) in relation to Scotland;

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.

7. The definition in Schedule 1 of “county court”, in relation to England and Wales, applies to Orders in Council made after the year 1846.

Section 25.

SCHEDULE 3
Enactments Repealed

Session and Chapter	Short Title	Extent of Repeal
20 Geo. 2. c. 42.	The Wales and Berwick Act 1746.	The whole Act.
33 Geo. 3. c. 13.	The Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793.	The words from “and to be the date” to the end.
43 & 44 Vict. c. 9.	The Statutes (Definition of Time) Act 1880.	The whole Act.
47 & 48 Vict. c. 62.	The Revenue Act 1884.	In section 14, the second paragraph, that is the words from “Any reference” to “Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866” in the second place where that Act is referred to in the section.
52 & 53 Vict. c. 63.	The Interpretation Act 1889.	The whole Act except paragraphs (4), (5) and (14) of section 13 in their application to Northern Ireland.
53 & 54 Vict. c. 21.	The Inland Revenue Regulation Act 1890.	In section 38(1), the words from “and” to “of this Act”.
59 & 60 Vict. c. 14.	The Short Titles Act 1896.	Section 3.
S.R. & O. 1923 No. 405.	The Irish Free State (Consequential Adaptation of Enactments) Order 1923.	In the Schedule, the entry relating to the Interpretation Act 1889.
15 & 16 Geo. 5. No. 1.	The Interpretation Measure 1925.	Section 1.
17 & 18 Geo. 5. c. 4.	The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927.	In section 2(2) the words “Act passed and”.
22 & 23 Geo. 5. c. 4.	The Statute of Westminster 1931.	Section 11.
11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 7.	The Ceylon Independence Act 1947.	Section 4(2).
11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 56.	The British Nationality Act 1948.	In section 1(2) the words “other enactment or” and the words “passed or”.
15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 55.	The Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952.	In Schedule 5, the amendment of the Interpretation Act 1889.
4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 76.	The Medical Act 1956.	Section 52(3).
5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 6.	The Ghana Independence Act 1957.	Section 4(1).
8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 55.	The Nigeria Independence Act 1960.	Section 3(1).
9 & 10 Eliz. 2. c. 16.	The Sierra Leone Independence Act 1961.	Section 3(1).
10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 1.	The Tanganyika Independence Act 1961.	Section 3(1).
10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 30.	The Northern Ireland Act 1962.	Section 27.
10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 40.	The Jamaica Independence Act 1962.	Section 3(1).
10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 54.	The Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962.	Section 3(1).
10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 57.	The Uganda Independence Act 1962.	Section 3(1).
1963 c. 33.	The London Government Act 1963.	In section 1, in subsection (1) the words “and any other” and in subsection (6) the words from “and section 15” to “that is to say”.
1963 c. 54.	The Kenya Independence Act 1963.	Section 4(1).
1964 c. 46.	The Malawi Independence Act 1964.	Section 4(1).
1964 c. 48.	The Police Act 1964.	In section 62 the words from “and in any other enactment” to “this Act)”.
1964 c. 86.	The Malta Independence Act 1964.	Section 4(1).
1964 c. 93.	The Gambia Independence Act 1964.	Section 4(1).
1966 c. 14.	The Guyana Independence Act 1966.	Section 5(1).
1966 c. 37.	The Barbados Independence Act 1966.	Section 4(1).
1967 c. 4.	The West Indies Act 1967.	Section 3(5).
1967 c. 66.	The Welsh Language Act 1967.	Section 4.
1967 c. 77.	The Police (Scotland) Act 1967.	In section 50, the words from “and in any other enactment” to “this Act)”; and in section 51, in subsection (4), the words from “and in any other enactment” to “this Act)”.
1968 c. 8.	The Mauritius Independence Act 1968.	Section 4(1).
1968 c. 13.	The National Loans Act 1968.	Section 1(6).
1970 c. 10.	The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970.	In section 526, in subsection (1) the words “and in any other Act”; and in subsection (2) the words “and in any Act passed after this Act.”
1970 c. 50.	The Fiji Independence Act 1970.	Section 4(1).
1971 c. 58.	The Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971.	In section 4(3) the words from “(which” to “the said section 28”.
1972 c. 68.	The European Communities Act 1972.	In section 1(2) the words from “and except” to “Northern Ireland)”.
1972 c. 70.	The Local Government Act 1972.	In section 269 the words from “in every Act” to “that date)” in the second place where those words occur.
1973 c. 14.	The Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973.	In section 13(1) the words “and in any other enactment providing for the payment of costs out of central funds”.
1973 c. 27.	The Bahamas Independence Act 1973.	Section 4(1).
1973 c. 32.	The National Health Reorganisation Act 1973.	In section 55(2), the words from the beginning to “that date; and”.
1973 c. 37.	The Water Act 1973.	In section 2(3) the words “and any other enactment”. Section 38(2).
1975 c. 21.	The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975.	In Schedule 9, paragraph 6.
1975 c. 72.	The Children Act 1975.	Section 89.
1975 c. 76.	The Local Land Charges Act 1975.	In section 4 the words “and any other statutory provision”.
1976 c. 63.	The Bail Act 1976.	In Schedule 2, the amendment of the Interpretation Act 1889.
1977 c. 45.	The Criminal Law Act 1977.	In section 64(1) the words from “and, unless” to “this Act)”.
1978 c. 12.	The Medical Act 1978.	In Schedule 5, in paragraph 48 paragraph (b) and the word “and” immediately preceding that paragraph.
1978 c. 15.	The Solomon Islands Act 1978.	Section 7(1).
1978 c. 20.	The Tuvalu Act 1978.	Section 4(1).