Freedom of Information Act 2000

84 Interpretation. U.K.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “applicant”, in relation to a request for information, means the person who made the request;

• “appropriate Northern Ireland Minister” means the Northern Ireland Minister in charge of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland;

• “appropriate records authority”, in relation to a transferred public record, has the meaning given by section 15(5);

• “body” includes an unincorporated association;

• “the Commissioner” means the Information Commissioner;

• “decision notice” has the meaning given by section 50;

• “the duty to confirm or deny” has the meaning given by section 1(6);

• “enactment” includes an enactment contained in Northern Ireland legislation;

• “enforcement notice” has the meaning given by section 52;

• “executive committee”, in relation to the National Assembly for Wales, has the same meaning as in the M1 Government of Wales Act 1998;

• “exempt information” means information which is exempt information by virtue of any provision of Part II;

• “fees notice” has the meaning given by section 9(1);

• “government department” includes a Northern Ireland department, the Northern Ireland Court Service and any other body or authority exercising statutory functions on behalf of the Crown, but does not include—

  (a)

  any of the bodies specified in section 80(2),

  (b)

  the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service or the Government Communications Headquarters, or

  (c)

  the National Assembly for Wales;

• “information” (subject to sections 51(8) and 75(2)) means information recorded in any form;

• “information notice” has the meaning given by section 51;

• “Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the M2 Crown Act 1975;

• “Northern Ireland Minister” includes the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland;

• “Northern Ireland public authority” means any public authority, other than the Northern Ireland Assembly or a Northern Ireland department, whose functions are exercisable only or mainly in or as regards Northern Ireland and relate only or mainly to transferred matters;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the [F1 Secretary of State];

• “public authority” has the meaning given by section 3(1);

• “public record” means a public record within the meaning of the M3 Public Records Act 1958 or a public record to which the M4 Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 applies;

• “publication scheme” has the meaning given by section 19;

• “request for information” has the meaning given by section 8;

• “responsible authority”, in relation to a transferred public record, has the meaning given by section 15(5);

• “the special forces” means those units of the armed forces of the Crown the maintenance of whose capabilities is the responsibility of the Director of Special Forces or which are for the time being subject to the operational command of that Director;

• “subordinate legislation” has the meaning given by subsection (1) of section 21 of the M5 Interpretation Act 1978, except that the definition of that term in that subsection shall have effect as if “Act” included Northern Ireland legislation;

• “transferred matter”, in relation to Northern Ireland, has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the M6 Northern Ireland Act 1998;

• “transferred public record” has the meaning given by section 15(4);

• “the Tribunal” means the Information Tribunal;

• “Welsh public authority” has the meaning given by section 83.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 84 substituted (19.8.2003) by The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1887), art. 9, Sch. 2 para. 12(1)(c)

Marginal Citations

M1 1998 c. 38.

M2 1975 c. 26.

M3 1958 c. 51.

M4 1923 c. 20 (N.I.).

M5 1978 c. 30.

M6 1998 c. 47.