Telecommunications Act 1984

106 General interpretation

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

• " the 1973 Act" means the [1973 c. 41.] Fair Trading Act 1973 ;

• " the 1980 Act " means the [1980 c. 21.] Competition Act 1980 ;

• "the 1981 Act" means the [1981 c. 38.] British Telecommunications Act 1981 ;

• " the appointed day " has the meaning given by section 2 above;

• " commercial activities connected with telecommunications " has the meaning given by section 4(3) above ;

• " the Commission" means the Monopolies and Mergers Commission;

• " consumer ", " monopoly situation ", " practice " and "supply " have the meanings given by section 137 of the 1973 Act;

• " the Director " means the Director General of Telecommunications ;

• " directory information service " has the meaning given by section 4(3) above;

• " disabled person" means any person who is blind, deaf or dumb or who is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury, congenital deformity or any other disability and " disabled " shall be construed accordingly;

• " the excepted liabilities " has the meaning given by section 60(2) above;

• " modifications" includes additions, alterations and omissions and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• " public telecommunications operator" has the meaning given by section 9(3) above ;

• " public telecommunication system" has the meaning given by section 9(1) above;

• " the successor company " and " the transfer date " have the meanings given by section 60(1) above;

• " telecommunication apparatus" (except where the extended definition in Schedule 2 to this Act applies) has the meaning given by section 4(3) above ;

• " telecommunication service " has the meaning given by section 4(3) above;

• " telecommunications operator " has the meaning given by section 16(1) above;

• " telecommunication system" has the meaning given by subsection (1) of section 4 above (read with subsection (2) of that section);

• " transitional period" has the meaning given by section 69(1) above.

(2) In this Act " statutory maximum " has the meaning given by section 74 of the [1982 c. 48.] Criminal Justice Act 1982 and for the purposes of this Act—

(a) section 32 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 ; and

(b) an order made under section 143 of that Act which alters the sum specified in the definition of " the prescribed sum " in subsection (9) of the said section 32,

shall extend to Northern Ireland and subsection (1) of the said section 74 shall have effect as if after the words " England and Wales " there were inserted the words " or Northern Ireland ".

(3) In this Act " the standard scale " has the meaning given by section 75 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 and for the purposes of this Act—

(a) section 37 of that Act; and

(b) an order under section 143 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 which alters the sums specified in subsection (2) of the said section 37,

shall extend to Northern Ireland and the said section 75 shall have effect as if after the words " England and Wales " there were inserted the words " or Northern Ireland ".

(4) Any power conferred on the Secretary of State by this Act to give a direction if it appears to him to be requisite or expedient to do so in the interests of national security or relations with the government of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom includes power to give the direction if it appears to him to be requisite or expedient to do so in order—

(a) to discharge, or facilitate the discharge of, an obligation binding on Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom by virtue of it being a member of an international organisation or a party to an international agreement;

(b) to attain, or facilitate the attainment of, any other objects the attainment of which is, in the Secretary of State's opinion, requisite or expedient in view of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom being a member of such an organisation or a party to such an agreement; or

(c) to enable Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to become a member of such an organisation or a party to such an agreement.

(5) For the purposes of any licence granted, approval given or order made under this Act any description or class may be framed by reference to any circumstances whatsoever.