S. 4(5)(a) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 40, 148, Sch. 9 para. 66(2); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

Words in s. 4(5)(c) substituted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes and 31.10.2009 otherwise) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378, 383, Sch. 16 para. 156; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

S. 4(5)(f) inserted (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 43 (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(c)(d)

Words in s. 4(5)(f) substituted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 5(5); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/section/4Human Rights Act 1998 An Act to give further effect to rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights; to make provision with respect to holders of certain judicial offices who become judges of the European Court of Human Rights; and for connected purposes.1998-11-09texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-06-24Expert Participation2024-04-25 Legislation
4 Declaration of incompatibility.1

Subsection (2) applies in any proceedings in which a court determines whether a provision of primary legislation is compatible with a Convention right.

2

If the court is satisfied that the provision is incompatible with a Convention right, it may make a declaration of that incompatibility.

3

Subsection (4) applies in any proceedings in which a court determines whether a provision of subordinate legislation, made in the exercise of a power conferred by primary legislation, is compatible with a Convention right.

4

If the court is satisfied—

a

that the provision is incompatible with a Convention right, and

b

that (disregarding any possibility of revocation) the primary legislation concerned prevents removal of the incompatibility,

it may make a declaration of that incompatibility.

5

In this section “court” means—

a

the Supreme Court;

b

the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council;

c

the Court Martial Appeal Court ;

d

in Scotland, the High Court of Justiciary sitting otherwise than as a trial court or the Court of Session;

e

in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

f

the Court of Protection, in any matter being dealt with by the President of the Family Division, the Chancellor of the High Court or a puisne judge of the High Court.

6

A declaration under this section (“a declaration of incompatibility”)—

a

does not affect the validity, continuing operation or enforcement of the provision in respect of which it is given; and

b

is not binding on the parties to the proceedings in which it is made.

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<p>
S. 4(5)(a) substituted (1.10.2009) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/4">Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/4/section/40">ss. 40</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/4/section/148">148</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/4/schedule/9/paragraph/66/2">Sch. 9 para. 66(2)</ref>
;
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/1604">S.I. 2009/1604</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/1604/article/2/d">art. 2(d)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="c18858762">
<p>
Words in s. 4(5)(c) substituted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes and 31.10.2009 otherwise) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/52">Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/52/section/378">ss. 378</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/52/section/383">383</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/52/schedule/16/paragraph/156">Sch. 16 para. 156</ref>
;
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/812">S.I. 2009/812</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/812/article/3">art. 3</ref>
(with transitional provisions in
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/1059">S.I. 2009/1059</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/1167">S.I. 2009/1167</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/1167/article/4">art. 4</ref>
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<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/9/section/67/1">ss. 67(1)</ref>
,
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<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/9/schedule/6/paragraph/43">Sch. 6 para. 43</ref>
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<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/9/section/27">ss. 27</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/9/section/28">28</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/9/section/29">29</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/9/section/62">62</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/1897">S.I. 2007/1897</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/1897/article/2/1/c/d">art. 2(1)(c)(d)</ref>
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<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2013/22">Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2013/22/section/61/3">s. 61(3)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2013/22/schedule/14/paragraph/5/5">Sch. 14 para. 5(5)</ref>
;
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2013/2200">S.I. 2013/2200</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2013/2200/article/3/g">art. 3(g)</ref>
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<num>4</num>
<heading> Declaration of incompatibility.</heading>
<subsection eId="section-4-1">
<num>1</num>
<content>
<p>Subsection (2) applies in any proceedings in which a court determines whether a provision of primary legislation is compatible with a Convention right.</p>
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<p>If the court is satisfied that the provision is incompatible with a Convention right, it may make a declaration of that incompatibility.</p>
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<p>Subsection (4) applies in any proceedings in which a court determines whether a provision of subordinate legislation, made in the exercise of a power conferred by primary legislation, is compatible with a Convention right.</p>
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a
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f
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Chancellor of the High Court
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<ins class="d29p369 last"> or a puisne judge of the High Court.</ins>
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A declaration under this section (“
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