Search Legislation

Senior Courts Act 1981

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Senior Courts Act 1981, Section 151 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

151 Interpretation of this Act, and rules of construction for other Acts and documents.U.K.

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

  • action” means any civil proceedings commenced by writ or in any other manner prescribed by rules of court;

  • appeal”, in the context of appeals to the civil division of the Court of Appeal, includes—

    (a)

    an application for a new trial, and

    (b)

    an application to set aside a verdict, finding or judgment in any cause or matter in the High Court which has been tried, or in which any issue has been tried, by a jury;

  • [F1arbitration agreement” has the same meaning as it has in the [F2Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996;]]

  • cause” means any action or any criminal proceedings;

  • Division”, where it appears with a capital letter, means a division of the High Court;

  • judgment” includes a decree;

  • jurisdiction” includes powers;

  • matter” means any proceedings in court not in a cause;

  • party”, in relation to any proceedings, includes any person who pursuant to or by virtue of rules of court or any other statutory provision has been served with notice of, or has intervened in, those proceedings;

  • prescribed” means—

    (a)

    except in relation to fees, prescribed by rules of court; F3. . .

    (b)

    F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • [F4qualifying judge advocate” means—

    (a)

    the Judge Advocate General; or

    (b)

    a person appointed under section 30(1)(a) or (b) of the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951 (assistants to the Judge Advocate General);]

  • [F5senior judge”, where the reference is to the senior judge of a Division, means the president of that Division;]

  • solicitor” means a solicitor of the [F6Senior Courts];

  • statutory provision” means any enactment, whenever passed, or any provision contained in subordinate legislation (as defined 0 in section 21(1) of the M1Interpretation Act 1978), whenever made;

  • this or any other Act” includes an Act passed after this Act.

(2)Section 128 contains definitions of expressions used in Part V and in the other provisions of this Act relating to probate causes and matters.

(3)Any reference in this Act to rules of court under section 84 includes a reference to rules of court under any provision of this or any other Act which confers on the [F7Civil Procedure Rule Committee] F8... power to make rules of court [F9in relation to the [F6Senior Courts]].

(4)Except where the context otherwise requires, in this or any other Act—

  • F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • divisional court” (with or without capital letters) means a divisional court constituted under section 66;

  • judge of the [F6Senior Courts]” means—

    (a)

    a judge of the Court of Appeal other than an ex-officio judge within paragraph (b) or (c) of section 2(2), or

    (b)

    a judge of the High Court,

    and accordingly does not include, as such, a judge of the Crown Court;

  • official referees’ business” has the meaning given by section 68(6);

  • [F12Rules of the [F6Senior Courts]” means rules of court made by the [F6Senior Courts] Rules Committee.]

(5)The provisions of Schedule 4 (construction of references to superseded courts and officers) shall have effect.

Extent Information

E1S. 151: for extent of s. 151(1), see s. 135(5); s. 151(2) -(5) extends to E.W. only

Textual Amendments

F1Definition of "arbitration agreement" inserted (1.4.1991) by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 125(3), Sch. 18 para. 41.; S.I. 1991/608, art. 2, Sch.

F2Words in definition of “arbitration agreement” in s. 151 substituted (31.1.1997) by 1996 c. 23, s. 107(2), Sch. 3 para. 37(3) (with s. 81(2)); S.I. 1996/3146, art. 3 (with Sch. 2 para. 1)

F3S. 151(1): para. (b) and preceding word in definition of "prescribed" repealed (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1)(3), 110, Sch. 8 para. 265, Sch. 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)(aa)

F4Words in s. 151(1) inserted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 2 para. 5; S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(c)

F5S. 151(1): definition of "senior judge" substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 146; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 10, 11(q)

F7Words in s. 151(3) substituted (26.4.1999) by 1997 c. 12, s. 10, Sch. 2 para. 1(7)(a); S.I. 1999/1009, art. 3(e)

F9Words in s. 151(3) inserted (26.4.1999) by 1997 c. 12, s. 10, Sch. 2 para. 1(7)(a); S.I. 1999/1009, art. 3(e)

F10S. 151(4): definition of "Criminal Appeal Rules" repealed (1.9.2004) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2035), art. 3, Sch. para. 18 (with art. 2(2))

F11S. 151(4): definition of "Crown Court Rules" repealed (1.9.2004) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2035), art. 3, Sch. para. 18 (with art. 2(2))

F12Definition of “Rules of the Supreme Court” in s. 151(4) omitted (26.4.1999) by virtue of 1997 c. 12, s. 10, Sch. 2 para. 1(7)(b); S.I. 1999/1009, art. 3(e)

Marginal Citations

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources