17 Interpretation.U.K.
(1)In this Act the expression “undertaking” means any undertaking by way of trade or business, whether or not the trade or business is carried on for profit; and the exercise and performance by a local or other public authority of the powers and duties of that authority shall be treated as a trade or business of that authority.
(2)Where an undertaking is wholly or partly carried on by means of branches situated at several premises, the Board of Trade or other competent authority may agree with the persons carrying on the undertaking that for the purposes of all or any of the provisions of this Act a separate undertaking shall be deemed to be carried on at all or any of the those branches by the branch manager or such other person as may be specified in the agreement.
Any such agreement may contain such supplemental provisions as may be expedient for giving effect thereto and shall continue in force for such term and shall be subject to such provisions as to variation and revocation as may be specified in the agreement.
[F1(3)For the purposes of this Act each of the following Ministers and authorities shall be a competent authority, that is to say, the Treasury, [F2the Chancellor of the Exchequer] a Secretary of State, the Board of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.]
(4)References in this Act to articles shall be construed as including references to substances, plant, vehicles, vessels and animals, and as including references to water, gas and electricity; and the expression “plant” includes any machinery, equipment or appliance.
(5)References in this Act to any other Act shall be construed as references to that Act as amended by any subsequent enactment including this Act.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 17(3) substituted by S.I. 1971/719, Sch. para. 2
F2Words inserted by S.I. 1989/992, art. 6(3)(a)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Certain functions of the Secretary of State transferred by S.I. 1989/992, art. 2(1)(2)