Of the same kind

List of words followed by 'any other' of a similar type (a general phrase)

'Dogs, cats and other animals' means ONLY domestic pets, not wild animals

Re Stockport Ragged, Industrial and Reformatory Schools (1898)

'cathedral, collegiate, chapter and other schools' means ONLY church schools

The mention of one thing excludes others

A CLOSED list

E.g. 'Coffee, tea, hot chocolate' so malt does not apply

Tempest v Kilner (1846)

A word is known by the company it keeps

Wild Animals Act 2011

Inland Revenue Comissioners v Frere (1965)

Long & Short Title of Act

Preamble

Marginal notes & Headings

Schedules

Interpretation section (more recent)

Advantages

Disadvantages

Dictionaries

Previous Acts of Parliament

Case Law

Hansard

Law reform reports

International traties

Explanatory Notes (after 1999)

Advantages

Disadvantages

Court of Appeal decided that racial harassment by fellow workers happened'in the course of employment' making the employer liable

Makes sense to look at 'whole purpose' of the Act

Gives effect to Parliament's intentions

Allows judges to use common sense

Allows judges to consider social and technological changes

Finding the intention of Parliament can be difficult

Undemocratic - gives too much power to unelected judges

May cause confusion

What was the common law before the Act was passed?

What was the mischief that the Act was designed to prevent?

What was the remedy that Parliament was trying to provide?

What was the reason for this remedy?

Gives effect to Parliament's intentions

Allows judges to use common sense

Allows judges to consider social & technological changes

Allows judges to look at external aids such as Hansard

Finding the intention of Parliament can be difficult

Undemocratic - gives too much power to unelected judges

Does not reflect modern needs

May cause confusion

If a word is ambiguous, judge can choose a possible meaning

Only one meaning, but modify to stop absurd result

Courts can make sensible decisions by altering definitions of words in statutes

Parliament don't need to pass new legislation, saving time

Still respects Parliamentary Sovereignty

Only allows change in limited circumstances

Unpredictable and lacks guidelines

Its application is inconsistent

Knife displayed in shop window should have been contrary to Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act, 1959.The literal rule was applied to say that the display was not a contract / offer to sell but just an 'invitation to treat'

Charged with impersonating 'any person entitled to vote' the defendant was acquittedbecause he impersonated a dead person, who was therefore not entitled to vote

Respects Parliamentary Sovereignty

Encourages certainty & people know where they stand

Quick decisions can be made

Sometimes produces an absurd result

Hard to apply if words have more than one meaning

Not flexible & judges can't use common sense