- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (11/10/2019)
- Original (As enacted)
Point in time view as at 11/10/2019.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Interpretation Act 1978, Paragraph 4.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
4(1)Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph—U.K.
(a)paragraphs of Schedule 1 at the end of which a year or date F1. . . is specified [F2or described] apply, so far as applicable, to Acts passed on or after the date, or after the year, so specified [F2or described]: and
(b)paragraphs of that Schedule at the end of which no year or date is specified [F2or described] apply, so far as applicable, to Acts passed at any time.
(2)The definition of “British Islands”, in its application to Acts passed after the establishment of the Irish Free State but before the commencement of this Act, includes the Republic of Ireland.
(3)The definition of “colony”, in its application to an Act passed at any time before the commencement of this Act, includes—
(a)any colony within the meaning of section 18(3) of the M1Interpretation Act 1889 which was excluded, but in relation only to Acts passed at a later time, by any enactment repealed by this Act;
(b)any country or territory which ceased after that time to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions but subject to a provision for the continuation of existing law as if it had not so ceased;
and paragraph (b) of the definition does not apply.
(4)The definition of “Lord Chancellor” does not apply to Acts passed before 1st October 1921 in which that expression was used in relation to Ireland only.
(5)The definition of “person”, so far as it includes bodies corporate, applies to any provision of an Act whenever passed relating to an offence punishable on indictment or on summary conviction.
(6)This paragraph applies to F3. . . the M2Water Act 1973 as if they were passed after 1st April 1974.
Textual Amendments
F1Words repealed by Family Law Reform Act 1987 (c. 42, SIF 49:7), s. 33(1)(2)(4), Sch. 2 para. 74, Sch. 3 paras. 1, 6, Sch. 4
F2Words inserted by Family Law Reform Act 1987 (c. 42, SIF 49:7), s. 33(1)(2), Sch. 2 para. 74, Sch. 3 paras. 1, 6
F3Words in Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 4(6) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, s. 5, Sch. 3 (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)
Marginal Citations
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.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
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.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: