Contempt of Court Act 1981

Supplemental U.K.

18 Northern Ireland. E+W+N.I.

(1) In the application of this Act to Northern Ireland references to the Attorney General shall be construed as references to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

(2) In their application to Northern Ireland, sections 12, 13, 14 and 16 of this Act shall have effect as set out in Schedule 4.

19 Interpretation. U.K.

In this Act—

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

• “court” includes any tribunal or body exercising the judicial power of the State, and “legal proceedings” shall be construed accordingly;

• “publication” has the meaning assigned by subsection (1) of section 2, and “publish” (except in section 9) shall be construed accordingly;

• “Scottish proceedings” means proceedings before any court, including the [F2 Court Martial Appeal Court], the Restrictive Practices Court and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, sitting in Scotland, and includes proceedings before the [F3 Supreme Court] in the exercise of any appellate jurisdiction over proceedings in such a court;

• “the strict liability rule” has the meaning assigned by section 1;

• “superior court” means [F4 the Supreme Court] the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Crown Court, the [F2 Court Martial Appeal Court], the Restrictive Practices Court, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and any other court exercising in relation to its proceedings powers equivalent to those of the High Court F5 . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Definition inserted by Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 (c. 46, SIF 96), s. 57(1), Sch. 5 para. 39(2) and repealed by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 203(1)(3), Sch. 20 para. 31(2), Sch. 21

F2 Words in S. 19 substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 91; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F3 Words in s. 19 substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 35(3); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

F4 Words in s. 19 inserted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 35(3); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

F5 Words in s. 19 repealed (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 35(3), Sch. 18 Pt. 5; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)(f)

20 Tribunals of Inquiry. U.K.

(1) In relation to any tribunal to which the M1 Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 applies, and the proceedings of such a tribunal, the provisions of this Act (except subsection (3) of section 9) apply as they apply in relation to courts and legal proceedings; and references to the course of justice or the administration of justice in legal proceedings shall be construed accordingly.

(2) The proceedings of a tribunal established under the said Act shall be treated as active within the meaning of section 2 from the time when the tribunal is appointed until its report is presented to Parliament.

Marginal Citations

M1 1921 c. 7.

21 Short title, commencement and extent. U.K.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

(2) The provisions of this Act relating to legal aid in England and Wales shall come into force on such day as the Lord Chancellor may appoint by order made by statutory instrument; and the provisions of this Act relating to legal aid in Scotland and Northern Ireland shall come into force on such day or days as the Secretary of State may so appoint.

Different days may be appointed under this subsection in relation to different courts.

(3) Subject to subsection (2), this Act shall come into force at the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the day on which it is passed.

(4) Sections 7, 8(3), 12, 13(1) to (3), 14, 16, 17 and 18, Parts I and III of Schedule 2 and Schedules 3 and 4 of this Act do not extend to Scotland.

(5) This Act, except sections 15 and 17 and Schedules 2 and 3, extends to Northern Ireland.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Power of appointment conferred by s. 21(2) not exercised