Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977

19 General interpretation

(1) In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—

• " appropriate assistance ", in relation to any person, means such assistance as a housing authority consider it appropriate in the circumstances to give him in any attempts that he may make to secure that accommodation becomes or does not cease to be available for his occupation;

• " appropriate consultations " means consultations—

  (a)

  with such associations representing relevant authorities, and

  (b)

  with such other persons,

  as the Secretary of State considers appropriate ;

• " available ", in relation to accommodation, shall be construed in accordance with section 16 above ;

• " development corporation " means—

  (a)

  in England or Wales, a development corporation established under the [1965 c. 59.] New Towns Act 1965, and

  (b)

  in Scotland, a development corporation established under the [1968 c. 16.] New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968 ;

• " homeless ", in relation to any person, shall be construed in accordance with section 1 above ;

• " housing authority " means as respects England and Wales a local authority for the purposes of the [1957 c. 56.] Housing Act 1957, as defined in section 1 of that Act and as respects Scotland a district or islands council;

• " intentionally ", in relation to a person who is homeless or threatened with homelessness, shall be construed in accordance with section 17 above ;

• " local connection " shall be construed in accordance with section 18 above;

• " notifying authority " and " notified authority " shall be construed in accordance with section 5(2) above ;

• " priority need " shall be construed in accordance with section 2(5) above;

• " registered housing association " means a housing association registered in the register of housing associations established under section 13 of the [1974 c. 44.] Housing Act 1974 ;

• " relevant authority " means—

  (a)

  a housing authority.

  (b)

  a social services authority,

  (c)

  a social work authority, and

  (d)

  the Greater London Council ;

• " social services authority " means a local authority for the purposes of the [1970 c. 42.] Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, as defined in section 1 of that Act;

• " social work authority " means a local authority for the purposes of the [1968 c. 49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, that is to say, a regional or islands council ;

• " threatened with homelessness ", in relation to any person, shall be construed in accordance with section 1(3) above ; and

• " voluntary organisation " means a body the activities of which are carried on otherwise than for profit, but does not include any public or local authority.

(2) Any reference in this Act to any enactment is a reference to it as amended or applied by or under any other enactment, including an enactment contained in this Act.