{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/registration-service-act-1953/section-21",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/registration-service-act-1953/section-21.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/37",
  "legislation_title": "Registration Service Act 1953",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/registration-service-act-1953",
  "path": "section/21",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "21",
  "heading": "Interpretation.",
  "text": "(1) In this Act, the following expressions have the following meanings respectively—\n“ civil registration official” has the meaning given by section 19AA;\n“local scheme” means the scheme or schemes made under section fourteen of this Act for the time being in force for the non-metropolitan county or metropolitan district in question;\n“the Minister” means the Secretary of State;\n“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under the last foregoing section;\n“the Registration Acts” means this Act, the Marriage Act 1949 and the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953.\n(2) In . . . this Act . . .\n(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b) any reference to a metropolitan district or the council of a metropolitan district shall include a reference to the City of London or the Common Council thereof and to a London borough or the council thereof and any reference to a non-metropolitan county includes a reference to a county borough.\n(3) Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any other enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) inserted (1.5.2018 except for the purposes of N.I.) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 46(4), 118(4)(6); S.I. 2018/382, reg. 3(k)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 21 substituted (3.4.2008) by Transfer of Functions (Registration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/678), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 7 (with art. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words repealed by London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), Sch. 18 Pt. II"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 21(2)(a) repealed by London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), Sch. 18 Pt. II"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words substituted by virtue of London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), s. 4(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 21 (2)(b) added (1.10.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 12; S.I. 1995/2490, art. 5(1)(2)(3), Sch. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1949 c. 76."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M2",
      "text": "1953 c. 20."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/37/section/21",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:16:38.785066+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."
}