Interpretation Act 1978

Changes over time for: Section 20

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20 References to other enactments [F1etc.].U.K.

(1)Where an Act describes or cites a portion of an enactment by referring to words, sections or other parts from or to which (or from and to which) the portion extends, the portion described or cited includes the words, sections or other parts referred to unless the contrary intention appears.

(2)Where an Act refers to an enactment, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that enactment as amended, and includes a reference thereto as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including any other provision of that Act.

[F2(2A)Where—

(a)an Act passed on or after IP completion day refers to any treaty relating to the EU or any instrument or other document of an EU entity, and

(b)the treaty, instrument of document has effect by virtue of section 7A or 7B of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (general implementation of remainder of EU withdrawal agreement etc.),

the reference, unless the contrary intention appears and so far as required for the purposes of relevant separation agreement law, is a reference to the treaty, instrument or document as it so has effect (including, so far as so required, as it has effect from time to time).]

[F3(3)[F4Subject to subsection (2A), where] an Act passed on or after [F5IP completion day] refers to any EU regulation, EU decision, EU tertiary legislation or provision of the EEA agreement, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to the EU regulation, EU decision, EU tertiary legislation or provision of the EEA agreement as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 or section 1 of the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020.

(4)Subsection (3) does not determine any question as to whether the reference is to be read as a reference to the EU regulation, EU decision, EU tertiary legislation or provision of the EEA agreement as modified by domestic law (and, accordingly, is without prejudice to subsection (2)).

(5)Any expression in [F6subsections (2A) to] (4) which is defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 has the same meaning in [F7the subsection concerned] as in that Act.]

[F8(6)In this section, “treaty” includes any international agreement (and any protocol or annex to a treaty or international agreement).]

Textual Amendments

F1Word in s. 20 heading inserted (31.12.2020) by The European Union Withdrawal (Consequential Modifications) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1447), regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a)

F2S. 20(2A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The European Union Withdrawal (Consequential Modifications) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1447), regs. 1(3), 2(2)(b)

F3S. 20(3)-(5) inserted (31.12.2020) by The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (Consequential Modifications and Repeals and Revocations) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/628), regs. 1(3), 3(2) (as amended by S.I. 2020/463, regs. 1(1), 10(4)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4Words in s. 20(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The European Union Withdrawal (Consequential Modifications) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1447), regs. 1(3), 2(2)(c)

F5Words in s. 20(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), s. 42(7), Sch. 5 para. 9 (with s. 38(3)); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(j)

F6Words in s. 20(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The European Union Withdrawal (Consequential Modifications) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1447), regs. 1(3), 2(2)(d)(i)

F7Words in s. 20(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The European Union Withdrawal (Consequential Modifications) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1447), regs. 1(3), 2(2)(d)(ii)

F8S. 20(6) inserted (31.12.2020) by The European Union Withdrawal (Consequential Modifications) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1447), regs. 1(3), 2(2)(e)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 20(2) applied (5.6.2003) by The Immigration (Jersey) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/1797), art. 4(1) (as amended by The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Jersey) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1252), art. 3(a))