Territorial extent and application
- Section 100 sets out the territorial extent of the Act, which describes the jurisdictions in which the Act forms part of the law. The territorial extent of the Act is, variously, the United Kingdom, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The extent of an Act of Parliament can be different from its application. Application is about where an Act produces a practical effect. The commentary on individual provisions of the Act explain their extent and application.
- The Act contains provisions which cover reserved and devolved subject areas.
- There is a convention that Westminster will not normally legislate with regard to matters that are within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly without the consent of the legislature concerned.
- To the extent that the provisions of the Act fall within the legislative competence of devolved legislatures, the legislative consent procedure would be appropriate.
- See the table in Annex A for a summary of the position regarding territorial extent and application in the United Kingdom. The table also summarises the position regarding legislative consent motions.
