Section 16 Interpretation.

In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

• “decision”, “procedural rules” and “working”, in relation to a tribunal, shall be construed subject to section 14,

• F1...

• F2“enactment” includes an Act of the Scottish Parliament,

• “Minister” includes F3the F4Welsh Ministers and any Board presided over by a Minister,

• F5“Northern Ireland devolved provision” means provision which could be made by an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly without the consent of the Secretary of State (see sections 6 to 8 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998),

• F6...

• “statutory inquiry” means—

  1. (a)

     an inquiry or hearing held or to be held in pursuance of a duty imposed by any statutory provision, or

  2. (b)

     an inquiry or hearing, or an inquiry or hearing of a class, designated for the purposes of this section by an order under subsection (2),

• F7but does not include an inquiry or hearing held or to be held in Wales under any provision of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, F8the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Parts 3 to 5 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 or the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990, and

• “statutory provision” means a provision contained in, or having effect under, any enactment,

• F9...

The Lord Chancellor F10. . . may by order designate for the purposes of this section any inquiry or hearing held or to be held in pursuance of a power conferred by any statutory provision specified or described in the order, or any class of such inquiries or hearings.

In relation to inquiries or hearings held or to be held in Northern Ireland, the power to make an order under subsection (2) is exercisable by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland (and not by any Minister of the Crown) so far as the power may be used to make Northern Ireland devolved provision; and subsection (2) is to be read accordingly.

The power to make an order under subsection (2) is not exercisable in relation to inquiries or hearings held or to be held in Wales by or on behalf of the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers may by order designate for the purposes of this section any inquiry or hearing held or to be held in Wales by or on behalf of the Welsh Ministers in pursuance of a power conferred by any statutory provision specified or described in the order, or any class of such inquiries or hearings.

References in this Act to members of tribunals include references to the person constituting a tribunal consisting of one person.