Interpretation Act 1978

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 [F2 or described] apply, so far as applicable, to Acts passed on or after the date, or after the year, so specified [F2 or described]: and

(b) paragraphs of that Schedule at the end of which no year or date is specified [F2 or 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 M1 Interpretation Act 1889 which was excluded, but in relation only to Acts passed at a later time, by any enactment repealed by this Act;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 M2 Water Act 1973 as if they were passed after 1st April 1974.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed by Family Law Reform Act 1987 (c. 42, SIF 49:7), s. 33(1)(2)(4), Sch. 2 para. 74, Sch. 3 paras. 1, 6, Sch. 4

F2 Words 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

F3 Words 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 I para. 4(6) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, s. 5, Sch. 3 (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)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

M1 1889 c. 63.

M2 1973 c. 37.