2.4 Interpretation sections
Some legislation contains an interpretation section which defines the meaning of certain words. The contents page of an Act will indicate whether or not there is an interpretations section. Legislation for both the Scottish and UK Parliaments can be accessed online at www.legislation.gov.uk [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] . This site contains both original Acts as enacted and updated versions of Acts.
For example, Section 3 of the National Galleries of Scotland Act 2016 sets out the definition for ‘the relevant land’, ‘the Council’ and ‘grid reference’. The Act relates to further extensions to the National Gallery of Scotland. The Act says the gardens in which the National Galleries are based are common land and cannot be built on without a court order or primary Act of Parliament.
Box 4 Interpretation: Section 3 National Galleries Scotland Act 2016
3 Interpretation
- (1) In this Act—
“the Council” means The City of Edinburgh Council; and
“the relevant land” means the piece of land which, prior to the coming into force of this Act—
- (a) formed part of that part of Princes Street Gardens in the City of Edinburgh which lies east of, and adjacent to, the Mound; and
- (b) comprises an area of approximately 737 square metres bounded by the line of the existing eastern border of the Gallery commencing at grid reference NT254522737900 then proceeding southerly for a distance of approximately 90 metres to grid reference NT254778737041 then proceeding westerly for a distance of approximately 4.5 metres across the bottom of the Playfair Steps to grid reference NT254733737027 then proceeding southerly for a distance of approximately 10 metres along the western boundary of the Playfair Steps to grid reference NT254761736934 then proceeding easterly for a distance of approximately 20 metres across the Playfair Steps and beyond to grid reference NT254957736993 then proceeding northerly along an imaginary line for a distance of approximately 7.5 metres to grid reference NT254935737064 then proceeding north westerly along an imaginary line for a distance of approximately 20 metres to grid reference NT254787737196 then proceeding northerly for a distance of approximately 75 metres to grid reference NT254574737915 in line with the most easterly part of the existing eastward Gallery extension into Princes Street Gardens and then returning westerly for a distance of approximately 5.5 metres to the point of commencement.
- (2) In this section, “grid reference” means Ordnance Survey National Grid reference.