3 Interpretation. E+W+S

(1) In this Act the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say,—

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

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

• [F3 “employee” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a gas operator, an officer, servant or agent of the operator and any servant or officer of such an agent; and

  (b)

  [F4 in relation to an electricity operator, an officer, servant or agent of the operator and any person authorised by such an agent];]

• “enactment” includes a local enactment;

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

• “local enactment” means a local or private Act, or an order made under, or confirmed by, an Act (whether a public general Act or a local or private Act);

• “premises” means a building or a part of a building;

• [F6 [F7 “electricity operator” means an electricity distributor or an electricity supplier (within the meaning of Part I of the Electricity Act 1989);]

• [F8 “gas operator” means a public gas transporter, gas supplier or gas shipper within the meaning of Part I of the M1 Gas Act 1986;]]

• “right of entry” includes a power of entry.

(2) In this Act—

(a) references to a person lawfully requiring entry to premises in the exercise of a right of entry to which this Act applies are references to a person seeking admission to those premises by virtue of that right and in accordance with the requirements (if any) of the relevant enactment; and

(b) references to the relevant enactment, in relation to a right of entry, are references to the enactment conferring that right, and references to the requirements of the relevant enactment are references to any requirements of that enactment as to the giving of notices or the taking of any other step before, or at the time of, the exercise of the right.

(3) References in this Act to a case of emergency are references to a case in which a person lawfully requiring entry to the premises in question, in the exercise of a right of entry to which this Act applies, has reasonable cause to believe that circumstances exist which are likely to endanger life or property, and that immediate entry to the premises is necessary to verify the existence of those circumstances or to ascertain their cause or to effect a remedy.

Textual Amendments

F1 Definition repealed by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3)(4), Sch. 7 para. 4(5)(a), Sch. 8 paras. 17, 33, Sch. 9 Pt. I

F2 Definition repealed by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3)(4), Sch. 16 para. 8(5)(a), Sch. 17 para. 35(1), Sch. 18

F3 S. 3: Definition of “employee” substituted (1.3.1996) by virtue of 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 5(4)(a); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2.

F4 S. 3: para. (b) in the definition of “employee” substituted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. III para. 41(5)(a); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch

F5 Definition “Gas Board” repealed by Gas Act 1972 (c. 60), s. 49(1), Sch. 8

F6 Words inserted by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 8(5)(c), Sch. 17 para. 35(1) and Gas Act 1986 (c.44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 4(5)(c)

F7 S. 3: definition of “electricity operator” substituted for “public electricity supplier” (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. III para. 41(5)(b); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch

F8 S. 3: Definition of “gas operator” substituted (1.3.1996) for definition of “public gas supplier” by virtue of 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 5(4)(b); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2.

Marginal Citations

M1 1986 c.44.