Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

2 (1) The Schedule to the Defamation Act 1952 (by virtue of which, among other things, newspaper reports of all proceedings at meetings of local authorities and their committees are privileged unless admission to the meetings is denied to representatives of newspapers and other members of the public) shall be amended as follows.

(2) At the beginning of paragraph 13 (interpretation) there shall be inserted " (1) " and for the definition of " local authority " in that paragraph there shall be substituted the following—

• “' local authority' means—

  (a)

  any principal council, within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1972, any body falling within any paragraph of section 100J(1) of that Act and any local authority, within the meaning of the [1973 c. 65.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 ;

  (b)

  any authority or body to which the [1960 c. 67.] Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 applies ; and

  (c)

  any authority or body to which sections 23 to 27 of the [1972 c. 9 (N.I.).] Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 apply ;

  and any reference to a committee of a local authority shall be construed in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) below.”

(3) After paragraph 13(1) there shall be added the following sub-paragraph—

“(2) .Any reference in this Schedule to a committee of a local authority includes a reference—

(a) to any committee or sub-committee in relation to which sections 100A to 100D of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 apply by virtue of section 100E of that Act (whether or not also by virtue of section 100J of that Act); and

(b) to any committee or sub-committee in relation to which sections 50A to 50D of the [1973 c. 65.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 apply by virtue of section 50E of that Act.”