Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Interpretation Act 1978

Changes to legislation:

Interpretation Act 1978 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 15 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

  1. Introductory Text

  2. General provisions as to enactment and operation

    1. 1. Words of enactment.

    2. 2. Amendment or repeal in same Session.

    3. 3. Judicial notice.

    4. 4. Time of commencement.

  3. Interpretation and construction

    1. 5. Definitions.

    2. 6. Gender and number.

    3. 7. References to service by post.

    4. 8. References to distance.

    5. 9. References to time of day.

    6. 10. References to the Sovereign.

    7. 11. Construction of subordinate legislation.

  4. Statutory powers and duties

    1. 12. Continuity of powers and duties.

    2. 13. Anticipatory exercise of powers.

    3. 14. Implied power to amend.

    4. 14A.Power to include sunset and review provisions in subordinate legislation

  5. Repealing enactments

    1. 15. Repeal of repeal.

    2. 16. General savings.

    3. 17. Repeal and re-enactment.

  6. Miscellaneous

    1. 18. Duplicated offences.

    2. 19. Citation of other Acts.

    3. 20. References to other enactments etc..

    4. 20A.References to certain EU instruments

  7. Supplementary

    1. 21.Interpretation etc.

    2. 22.Application to Acts and Measures.

    3. 23.Application to other instruments.

    4. 23ZA.Assimilated direct legislation

    5. 23A.Acts of the Scottish Parliament etc.

    6. 23B.Application of this Act to Welsh legislation

    7. 23C.Interpretation of this Act in relation to Welsh legislation

    8. 24.Application to Northern Ireland.

    9. 25.Repeals and savings.

    10. 26.Commencement.

    11. 27.Short title.

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Words and Expressions Defined

      1. Definitions

        1. “ Act ” means an Act of Parliament. “Associated state”...

      2. ...

        1. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. Construction of certain expressions relating to offences

        1. In relation to England and Wales— (a) “indictable offence” means...

        2. In the above definitions references to the way or ways...

        3. In relation to a term of imprisonment in respect of...

      4. Construction of certain references to relationships

        1. In relation to England and Wales— (a) references (however expressed)...

      5. Construction of certain expressions relating to the police: Scotland

        1. In relation to Scotland— (a) references to a police force...

      6. Definitions relating to the EU and the United Kingdom's withdrawal

        1. “ Assimilated law ”, “ assimilated direct legislation ”, “...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Application of Act to Existing Enactments

      1. Part I Acts

        1. 1.The following provisions of this Act apply to Acts whenever...

        2. 2.The following apply to Acts passed after the year 1850:—...

        3. 3.The following apply to Acts passed after the year 1889:—...

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

        5. 5.The following definitions shall be treated as included in Schedule...

      2. Part II Subordinate Legislation

        1. 6.Sections 4(a), 9 and 19(1), and so much of Schedule...

        2. 7.The definition in Schedule 1 of “county court”, in relation...

        3. 8.The definition in Schedule 1 of “enactment”, in so far...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      ENACTMENTS REPEALED

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources

The data on this page is available in the alternative data formats listed: