{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-act-1972/section-138A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-act-1972/section-138A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1972/70",
  "legislation_title": "Local Government Act 1972",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-act-1972",
  "path": "section/138A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "138A",
  "heading": "Prayers and other observances",
  "text": "(1) The business at a meeting of a local authority in England may include time for—\n(a) prayers or other religious observance, or\n(b) observance connected with a religious or philosophical belief.\n(2) Subsection (1) also applies in relation to meetings of—\n(a) a committee of a local authority in England,\n(b) a joint committee of two or more such authorities, whether appointed or established under Part 6 of this Act or any other enactment, or\n(c) a sub-committee of such a committee or joint committee.\n(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not limit other powers.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 138A, 138B inserted (26.5.2015) by Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act 2015 (c. 27), ss. 1, 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 138A modified by 1995 c. 25, Sch. 8 para. 3(1A) (as inserted (26.5.2015) by Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act 2015 (c. 27), ss. 2(3), 3(2))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/70/section/138A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:48:26.887741+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}