Part I
(4) In this section “officer” means any person duly authorised to administer oaths.
Consequential amendments.
1963 c. 37.
1968 c. 34 (N.I.).
2. In the following provisions, namely—
- (a) section 28(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963; and
- (b) section 56(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968
(each of which prescribes the form of oath for use in juvenile courts and by children and young persons in other courts) for the words “section 2 of the Oaths Act 1909” there shall be substituted the words “section 1 of the Oaths Act 1978”.
Part II
United Kingdom
Oaths
Swearing with uplifted hand. 3. If any person to whom an oath is administered desires to swear with uplifted hand, in the form and manner in which an oath is usually administered in Scotland, he shall be permitted so to do, and the oath shall be administered to him in such form and manner without further question.
Validity of oaths. 4.—(1) In any case in which an oath may lawfully be and has been administered to any person, if it has been administered in a form and manner other than that prescribed by law, he is bound by it if it has been administered in such form and with such ceremonies as he may have declared to be binding.
(2) Where an oath has been duly administered and taken, the fact that the person to whom it was administered had, at the time of taking it, no religious belief, shall not for any purpose affect the validity of the oath.
Solemn affirmations
Making of solemn affirmations. 5.—(1) Any person who objects to being sworn shall be permitted to make his solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath.
(2) Subsection (1) above shall apply in relation to a person to whom it is not reasonably practicable without inconvenience or delay to administer an oath in the manner appropriate to his religious belief as it applies in relation to a person objecting to be sworn.
