Energy Conservation Act 1981

27Interpretation

(1)In this Act "supply" means, in relation to any appliance, supply in the course of a business, whether by way of sale, hire, loan, hire-purchase (that is to say, under a hire-purchase agreement) exchange or gift; but where the person supplying an appliance to another person under a hire-purchase agreement, conditional sale agreement, credit sale agreement or hiring agreement (other than a hire-purchase agreement)—

(a)carries on the business of financing the provision of goods for others by means of such agreements (whether or not that business is confined to financing the provision of appliances of the description in question); and

(b)in the course of that business acquired his interest in the appliance supplied to that other person as a means of financing the provision of that appliance for the other person by a third person ;

the person providing the appliance and not the actual supplier shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as supplying the goods to the other person.

(2)In this Act—

• " authorised inspector " has the meaning given by section 21(3) of this Act;

• "conditional sale agreement", "credit-sale agreement" and "hire-purchase agreement" have the meanings given by section 189(1) of the [1974 c. 39.] Consumer Credit Act 1974;

• "enforcement officer" has the meaning given by section 20(2) of this Act;

• " examination ", in relation to appliances, includes test, and " examine " shall be construed accordingly;

• "heat generator" has the meaning given by section 1(11) of this Act;

• " premises " includes any place and any stall, vehicle, ship hovercraft or aircraft;

• " ship" includes any boat and any other description of vessel used in navigation; and

• " the statutory maximum " means—

  (a)

  in England and Wales, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 32 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (that is to say, £1,000 or another sum fixed by order under section 143 of that Act to take account of changes in the value of money); and

  (b)

  in Scotland, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 289B of the [1975 c. 21.] Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (that is to say £1,000 or another sum fixed by order under section 289D of that Act for that purpose).

(3)References in this Part of this Act to a relevant offence shall be construed in accordance with section 20(2)(a) of this Act.