Interpretation of legislationU.K.
25References to Community instrumentsU.K.
(1)In the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), after section 20 insert—
“20AReferences to Community instruments
Where an Act passed after the commencement of this section refers to a Community instrument that has been amended, extended or applied by another such instrument, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that instrument as so amended, extended or applied.”
(2)In that Act, in section 22(1) (application to Acts and Measures), after “passed after the commencement of this Act” insert “ (subject, in the case of section 20A, to the provision made in that section) ”.
(3)In that Act, in section 24 (application to Northern Ireland), after subsection (3) insert—
“(3A)Section 20A applies to Northern Ireland legislation as it applies to Acts.”
(4)In the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Publication and Interpretation etc of Acts of the Scottish Parliament) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1379), in Schedule 1 (statutory interpretation and operation) at the end insert—
“References to Community instruments16Where an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed after the commencement of this paragraph refers to a Community instrument that has been amended, extended or applied by another such instrument, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that instrument as so amended, extended or applied.”
26EEA agreement and EEA stateU.K.
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(2)In that Act, in section 24 (application to Northern Ireland), in subsection (4), after “The Corporation Tax Acts” insert— “ EEA agreement and EEA state; ”.
(3)In the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Publication and Interpretation etc of Acts of the Scottish Parliament) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1379), in Schedule 2 (general definitions), after the definition of “Devolution issue” insert—
““EEA agreement” means the agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992, together with the Protocol adjusting that Agreement signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993, as modified or supplemented from time to time.
“EEA state”, in relation to any time, means—
(a)a state which at that time is a member State; or
(b)any other state which at that time is a party to the EEA agreement.”
(4)The amendment made by subsection (3) does not have effect in relation to—
(a)an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed before the commencement of this section; or
(b)Scottish subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Order referred to in subsection (3)) made before the commencement of this section.