132.This section makes provision about domestic legislation which refers to Community instruments - that is, to legal instruments (such as directives or regulations) which are issued by the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community or Euratom. The section is designed to make the drafting of domestic instruments simpler. The problem that the section addresses is that currently, when domestic legislation refers to a Community instrument which has been amended or applied by other Community instruments, it is necessary to specify all the instruments which have amended or applied it. That can make for very long references.
133.Subsection (1) inserts a new section 20A into the 1978 Act. The effect of the new section is that, where an Act refers to a Community instrument, the reference is to be taken, unless the contrary intention appears, as a reference to that instrument as amended, extended or applied at the date of passing of the Act.
134.The new section only applies in relation to Acts passed after the commencement of the new section on 8th January 2007. Subsection (2) contains a consequential amendment to section 22 of the 1978 Act.
135.By virtue of section 23 of the 1978 Act, the new section will also apply to subordinate legislation, within the meaning of that section, made after the commencement of the new section on 8th January 2007.
136.Subsection (3) of the section contains an amendment to section 24 of the 1978 Act, so that the new section 20A applies to Northern Ireland legislation as it applies to Acts.
137.Subsection (4) amends the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Publication and Interpretation etc of Acts of the Scottish Parliament) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1379) to secure the same result for Acts of the Scottish Parliament.