Fire Services Act 1947

38 Interpretation. E+W

(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say:—

• “appointed day” means such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint;

• [F1 “combined area”, in relation to Scotland, means an area for which a combined fire brigade is established by an administration scheme under section 36 of this Act;]

• F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “equipment” includes fire engines and other vehicles and appliances and other apparatus, and also uniforms and badges of rank;

• “fire authority” means an authority which for the time being is constituted a fire authority by this Act or any combination scheme made thereunder;

• “fire-fighting purposes” means the purposes of the extinction of fires and the protection of life and property in case of fire;

• [F3 “Fire Services Examinations Board” means the Board established by regulation 3 of the Fire Services (Examinations) Regulations 1985 F4 ]

• [F5 “highway authority” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980;]

• “street” includes any highway, including a highway over any bridge and any road, lane, footway, square, court, alley or passage whether a thoroughfare or not.

(2) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment.

(3) References in this Act to a fire authority under the M1 Fire Brigades Act 1938, and to a fire brigade maintained in pursuance of that Act respectively include references to the London County Council and the London Fire Brigade.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F1 Definition inserted by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65), s. 147(6); and that insertion was continued by S.I. 1995/702, art. 2

F2 Definitions repealed by (E.W.) Police Act 1964 (c. 48), Sch. 10 Pt. I and (S.) Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77), Sch. 5 Pts. I, II

F3 Definition of "Fire Services Examinations Board" in s. 38(1) inserted (14.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3251, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 2(3) (with art. 4)

F4 S.I. 1985/1176.

F5 Words in s. 38(1) inserted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 Pt. IV para. 99(3)(a); S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.

Marginal Citations

M1 1938 c. 72.

38 Interpretation. S

(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say:—

• “appointed day” means such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint;

• [F6 “combined area”, in relation to Scotland, means an area for which a combined fire brigade is established by an administration scheme under section 36 of this Act [F7 or section 147 of the M2 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973];]

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “equipment” includes fire engines and other vehicles and appliances and other apparatus, and also uniforms and badges of rank;

• “fire authority” means an authority which for the time being is constituted a fire authority by this Act or any combination scheme made thereunder;

• “fire-fighting purposes” means the purposes of the extinction of fires and the protection of life and property in case of fire;

• [F9 “Fire Services Examinations Board” means the Board established by regulation 3 of the Fire Services (Examinations) Regulations 1985 F10 ]

• [F11 “highway authority” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980;]

• [F12 “road” has the same meaning as in the [F13 Part IV of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991]; and

• “roads authority” has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;]

(2) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment.

(3) References in this Act to a fire authority under the M3 Fire Brigades Act 1938, and to a fire brigade maintained in pursuance of that Act respectively include references to the London County Council and the London Fire Brigade.

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only.

Textual Amendments

F6 Definition inserted by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65), s. 147(6); and that insertion was continued by S.I. 1995/702, art. 7

F7 S. 38(1): Words in definition inserted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 27(4); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F8 Definitions repealed by (E.W.) Police Act 1964 (c. 48), Sch. 10 Pt. I and (S.) Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77), Sch. 5 Pts. I, II

F9 Definition of "Fire Services Examinations Board" in s. 38(1) inserted (14.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3251, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 2(3) (with art. 4)

F10 S.I. 1985/1176.

F11 Words in s. 38(1) inserted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 Pt. IV para. 99(3)(a); S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.

F12 Definitions substituted (S.) by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 34(5)

F13 Words in s. 38(1) substituted (1.1.1993) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 Pt. IV para. 99(3)(b); S.I. 1992/2990, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.

Marginal Citations

M2 1973 c. 65.

M3 1938 c. 72.