Interpretation Act 1978

  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.

    4. 20A.References to EU instruments

  7. Supplementary

    1. 21. Interpretation etc.

    2. 22. Application to Acts and Measures.

    3. 23. Application to other instruments.

    4. 23ZA.Retained direct EU 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

      2. . . .

      3. Construction of certain expressions relating to offences

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

      4. Construction of certain references to relationships

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

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

    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. SCHEDULE 3

      ENACTMENTS REPEALED