1. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Statutory Interpretation Approaches to statutory interpretation 1

2. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Objectives Define what is meant by statutory interpretation Explain four different approaches to statutory interpretation Apply examples that are relevant to each approach to statutory interpretation 2

3. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Key Terms Statutory interpretation The literal rule The golden rule The mischief rule The purposive approach 3

4. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank What is Statutory Interpretation? Legislation usually drafted by Parliamentary counsel Parliament’s role is to create legislation Judge’s role is to apply it No matter how hard Parliamentary counsel work to make clear always some issues with definition Sometimes deliberately broad to allow flexibility This often means that judges have to interpret the Acts 75% of cases heard by Lords (now Supreme Court) are Statutory Interpretation 4

5. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank What is Statutory Interpretation? Judges are aided by materials inside and outside the Act Also by rules and presumptions These created by Judges themselves Not really rules only alternative ways a judge can interpret the Act Judges make certain presumptions when interpreting an act –Acts of Parliament are not retrospective –The Crown is not bound –There is no change in common law unless the Act specifically says so –Mens Rea is required in all criminal cases 5

6. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank The Rules of Interpretation Also known as the cannons of construction Once Parliament has passed an Act, it then falls to the courts to apply the statute in a particular case. This can lead to difficulties where: –facts of the case may not have been envisaged by Parliament –or where there exist drafting errors or ambiguity in the statute 6

7. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank The Rules of Interpretation Referred to as 'rules' Not strictly binding Some commentators argue they are used to justify a decision rather than assisting the decision making process. –Literal Rule –Golden Rule –Mischief Rule –Purposive Approach 7

8. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Literal Rule The literal rule of statutory interpretation should be the first rule applied by judges. Requires the judge to give the words of the statute their natural, ordinary or dictionary meaning Should be applied without the judge seeking to put a gloss on the words or seek to make sense of the statute. This is the case even if it appears to be contrary to rules of Parliament 8

9. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Literal Rule Lord Reid in Pinner v Everett [1969]: –‘In determining the meaning of any words or phrase in a statute, the first question to ask is always what is the natural and ordinary meaning of that word or phrase in its context in the statute.’ This may lead to unexpected results that were not the intention of Parliament. 9

10. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 10 R v Harris (1836) 7 C & P 446 The defendant bit off his victim's nose. Principle – The statute made it an offence 'to stab cut or wound' the court held that under the literal rule the act of biting did not come within the meaning of stab cut or wound as these words implied an instrument had to be used. Therefore the defendant's conviction was quashed.

11. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 11 Whitely v Chappel (1868) LR 4 QB 147 A statute made it an offence 'to impersonate any person entitled to vote.' The defendant used the vote of a dead man. The statute relating to voting rights required a person to be living in order to be entitled to vote. Principle – The literal rule was applied and the defendant was thus acquitted.

12. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 12 Fisher v Bell [1961] 1 QB 394 The defendant had a flick knife displayed in his shop window with a price tag on it. Statute (The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959) made it a criminal offence to ’sell or offer for sale' such flick knives. Principle – The court applied the literal rule of statutory interpretation. His conviction was quashed as in contract law, goods on display in shops are not 'offers' in the technical sense but an invitation to treat. The court found D not guilty even though it was obviously Parliament’s intention to stop the sale of these types of weapons.

13. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Golden Rule May be applied where an application of the literal rule would lead to an absurdity. The courts may then apply a secondary meaning. (River Wear Commissioners v Adamson) (1876-77) L.R. 2 App Cas 743. This will avoid an absurd result Two approaches –Narrow approach –Broad approach 13

14. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Golden Rule – Narrow Approach Applied when the word or phrase is capable of more than one literal meaning. This allows the judge to apply the meaning that avoids an absurdity. R v Allen (1872) gives a perfect example. 14

15. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 15 R v Allen (1872) LR 1 CCR 367 The defendant was charged with the offence of bigamy under s.57 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The statute states 'whosoever being married shall marry any other person during the lifetime of the former husband or wife is guilty of an offence'. Under a literal interpretation of this section the offence would be impossible to commit since civil law will not recognise a second, any attempt to marry in such circumstances would not be recognised as a valid marriage. Principle – The court applied the golden rule and held that the word 'marry' should be interpreted as 'to go through a marriage ceremony'. The defendant's conviction was upheld.

16. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Golden Rule – Broad Approach Applied when there is only one literal meaning but applying it would cause an absurdity Under Broad approach court will modify the meaning to avoid absurdity. Adler v George (1964) is the example here 16

17. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 17 Adler v George [1964] 2 QB 7 Under the Official Secrets Act 1920 it was an offence to obstruct a member of the armed forces 'in the vicinity' of a prohibited palace. The defendant was actually in the prohibited place, rather than 'in the vicinity' of it, at the time of obstruction. Principle – The court applied the golden rule. It would be absurd for a person to be liable if they were near to a prohibited place and not if they were actually in it. His conviction was therefore upheld.

18. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 18 Re Sigsworth [1935] 1 Ch 98 A son murdered his mother. She had not made a will. Under the statute setting the law on intestacy he was her sole issue and stood to inherit her entire estate. Principle – The court applied the Golden rule holding that an application of the literal rule would lead to a repugnant result. He was thus entitled to nothing.

19. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Golden Rule Provides an opportunity for judicial law making Narrow approach allows them to choose between several meanings Broad approach allows modification of the meaning of the words used by Parliament. 19

20. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Mischief Rule Oldest of the rules. Established in Heydon’s Case[1584] In Re Sussex Peerage, it was held that the mischief rule should only be applied where there is ambiguity in the statute. Under the mischief rule the court's role is to suppress the mischief the Act is aimed at and advance the remedy. 20

21. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Mischief Rule Court looks at gap in law that Parliament felt necessary to close. Then interprets the Act to fill that gap and remedy the ‘mischief’ Parliament had been aiming to remedy. 21

22. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 22 Heydon's Case [1584] EWHC Exch J36 In an action determining the validity of a lease the court formulated the mischief rule. Principle – 1. What was the common law before making the Act? 2. What was the mischief and defect for which the common law did not provide? 3. What was the remedy Parliament passed to cure the mischief? 4. What was the true reason for the remedy? The role of the judge is to suppress the mischief and advance the remedy.

23. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Mischief Rule Where an Act has been passed to remedy a weakness or defect in the law, the interpretation that will correct the weakness or defect is the one that should be taken. 23

24. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 24 Smith v Hughes [1960] 1 WLR 830 The defendants were prostitutes who had been charged under the Street Offences Act 1959 which made it an offence to solicit in a public place. The prostitutes were soliciting from private premises in windows or on balconies so could be seen by the public. Principle – The court applied the mischief rule holding that the activities of the defendants were within the mischief the Act was aimed at even though under a literal interpretation they would be in a private place.

25. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Mischief Rule Where an Act has been passed to remedy a weakness or defect in the law, the interpretation that will correct the weakness or defect is the one that should be taken. Provides scope for judicial law making as it allows judges to decide what they think Parliament intended to put right in the previous law. The judges do not focus on the words as stated by Parliament. 25

26. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Purposive Approach Mischief Rule – looks back at common law before Act was passed to find gap in law that Parliament trying to fill Purposive approach focuses on what Parliament intended. Modern version of Mischief Rule Distinction between the two a minor technicality In Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart (1993) Lord Browne-Wilkinson: "the purposive approach to construction now adopted by the courts in order to give effect to the true intentions of the legislature". 26

27. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 27 Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart (1993) 1 All ER 42 This case concerned the tax liability of teachers at a public school where one of the perks of the job was that their sons could be educated at one fifth of the usual cost. This perk was a taxable benefit under s.61(1) of the Finance Act 1976 as it was a cash equivalent. The question for the House of Lords was how much tax should be levied. Principle – Responses made by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury during the Committee stage of the bill to queries regarding concessions enjoyed by railway men made it clear that tax should be levied at the marginal cost incurred by the employer. Adopting this interpretation, tax should be assessed on the basis of the marginal cost to the employer, not on the average cost of providing education for the employees' sons and the public.

28. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Purposive Approach Increasingly used by UK Courts since UK joined European Union EU law drafted in broad terms Lord Denning commenting on EU law in Bulmer Ltd v J Bollinger SA (1974): “All the way through the Treaty there are gaps and lacunae. These have to be filled in by the judges, or by regulations or directives. It is the European way.” 28

29. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Purposive Approach Judges in UK employ the Purposive Approach when dealing with European Law Human Rights Act 1998 is another influence acting on Judges – Legislation must conform to HRA Considerable shift to Purposive Approach In line with Law Commission Report on Interpretation of Statutes 1969 29

30. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank 30 Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart (1993) 1 All ER 42 The Court of Appeal had to decide whether the physical and verbal abuse of a young black worker by his workmates fell within ‘the course of employment’ under s32 of the Race Relations Act 1976. The employer had argued that these actions fell outside the course of the workmate’s employment, because such behavior was not part of their job. The Employment Appeal Tribunal could not therefore be held responsible to the young black worker for his workmate’s behaviour. Principle – This decision was reversed by the Court of Appeal using the purposive approach to interpret s32. Parliament’s intention when enacting the Race Relations Act was to eliminate discrimination in the workplace and this would not be achieved by applying a narrow construction to the wording.

31. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Purposive Approach Provides scope for judicial law making Judge is allowed to decide what he/she thinks Parliament intended the At to say not what the Act actually says 31

32. Approaches Statutory Interpretation © The Law Bank Objectives Define what is meant by statutory interpretation Explain four different approaches to statutory interpretation Apply examples that are relevant to each approach to statutory interpretation 32