Reserve Forces Act 1980

156 Interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

• [F1 “area”, in the application to Scotland of the provisions of this Act relating to the lieutenancies, shall be construed in accordance with section 131(1A) of this Act;]

• “home defence service” means military or air force service in any place in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man in defence of the United Kingdom or those islands against actual or apprehended attack;

• “man”, in relation to—

(a) the naval forces, means a person of or below the rate of warrant officer;

(b) the military or air forces, includes a warrant officer and non-commissioned officer;

• “permanent service” includes actual service;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by orders or regulations made under [F2 the Reserve Forces Act 1996];

• “regular air force” has the same meaning as in the M1 Air Force Act 1955.

• “regular army” means the regular forces within the meaning of the M2 Army Act 1955, but in sections 11(4) and (5), 15, 39(2), 83(1) and (2) above, and paragraph 19 of Schedule 8 to this Act, does not include the Royal Marines;

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

(2) Except where the context otherwise requires, other expressions in this Act—

(a) relating to the Army Reserve and the Territorial Army, have the same meanings as in the Army Act 1955;

(b) relating to the Air Force Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, have the same meanings as in the Air Force Act 1955.

(3) This Act, [F4 except so much of it as relates to the Royal Fleet Reserve and the Royal Marines Reserve], applies to women as it applies to men.

(4) In this Act—

(a) in relation to the definition of “home defence service” in subsection (1) above, and

(b) for the purposes of sections 10(6), 68(3) and 96(3) above,

service on any flight of which the points of departure and intended return are within the boundaries of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, or of the territorial waters of the United Kingdom and those islands, shall be deemed to be service within the United Kingdom notwithstanding that the flight may in its course extend beyond those boundaries.

(5) The expression “magistrates’ court”, in the application of this Act—

(a) to Scotland, shall be construed as a reference to the sheriff sitting as a court of summary jurisdiction;

(b) to Northern Ireland, shall be construed as a reference to a court of summary jurisdiction.

Textual Amendments

F1 Definition inserted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 116(4); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F2 Words in definition in s. 156(1) substituted (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/306, reg. 27

F3 Definition repealed by Reserve Forces Act 1982 (c. 14, SIF 7:2), s. 1(1)(a)

F4 Words “except so much of it as relates to the Royal Fleet Reserve and the Royal Marines Reserve” substituted (retrospectively) for words “so far as it relates to the military and air forces” by Reserve Forces Act 1982 (c. 14, SIF 7:2), s. 20(3)

Marginal Citations

M1 1955 c. 19.

M2 1955 c. 18.