In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

• “the 1965 Act” has the meaning given by section 1;

• “amendment”, in relation to a registered society's rules, includes a new rule and a resolution rescinding a rule;

• “annual return” has the same meaning as in section 89;

• “the appropriate authority” means—

  1. a

     in relation to a society that is a PRA-authorised person, the PRA;

  2. b

     in relation to any other society, the FCA;

• “charitable registered society” means a registered society that is a charity;

• “charity” (except in section 10)—

  1. a

     has the meaning given by section 1(1) of the Charities Act 2011 (as modified, in the case of a society whose registered office is in Scotland, by section 7(2) of that Act);

  2. b

     but in relation to a society whose registered office is in any of the Channel Islands, it means a society established for charitable purposes only (“charitable purposes” having the meaning given by the law of that Island);

  and similar expressions are to be read accordingly;

• “committee”, in relation to a society, means the society's management committee or other directing body;

• “the Companies Acts” means—

  1. a

     the Companies Acts as defined in section 2(1) of the Companies Act 2006, or

  2. b

     any law for corresponding purposes in force in any of the Channel Islands,

  and includes corresponding earlier Acts or laws;

• “credit union” means a registered society that is registered as a credit union;

• “electronic address” means any number or address used for the purposes of sending or receiving documents or information by electronic means;

• “electronic copy”, “electronic form” and “electronic means” have the same meaning as in section 148;

• “enactment” (except in section 136 and Schedule 5) includes—

  1. a

     an enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978,

  2. b

     an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament, and

  3. c

     an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales;

• “the FCA” means the Financial Conduct Authority;

• “the Financial Ombudsman scheme” means the scheme established under Part 16 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

• “Gazette”, in relation to a registered society, means such one or more of the following as apply—

  1. a

     the London Gazette, if the society's registered office is in England, Wales or the Channel Islands or it carries on business there;

  2. b

     the Edinburgh Gazette, if the society's registered office is in Scotland or it carries on business there;

  3. c

     F1the Belfast Gazette, if a notice given by the society has been filed under section 102 (Great Britain societies carrying on business in Northern Ireland) of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969;

• “heritable security” has the same meaning as in the Conveyancing (Scotland) Act 1924 except that it includes a security constituted by ex facie absolute disposition or assignation;

• “meeting”, in relation to a society, includes (where the society's rules allow it) a meeting of delegates appointed by members;

• “officer”, in relation to a registered society—

  1. a

     includes any treasurer, secretary, member of the committee, manager or employee of the society (except an employee appointed by the society's committee), but

  2. b

     does not include an auditor appointed by the society in accordance with the requirements of Part 7;

• “persons claiming through a member” includes the heirs, executors or administrators and assignees of a member and (where nomination is allowed) the person's nominee;

• “the PRA” means the Prudential Regulation Authority;

• “PRA-authorised person” has the meaning given by section 2B of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

• “pre-commencement society” has the meaning given by section 150;

• “registered”, in relation to a society's name or office, means the name or office for the time being registered under this Act in respect of the society;

• “registered rules”, in relation to a registered society, means the rules registered under this Act, as amended by any amendment of the rules that has been so registered;

• “registered society” has the meaning given by section 1;

• the FCA's “seal” means the seal provided for in regulations made under section 109(1)(b) of the Friendly Societies Act 1974 (and any reference to a document sealed by the FCA is to be read accordingly).