Section 31 — Interpretation and exceptions
This version in force from 2010-10-01
Snapshot: 2026-08-24
Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .
(1) This section applies for the purposes of this Part.
(2) A reference to the provision of a service includes a reference to the provision of goods or facilities.
(3) A reference to the provision of a service includes a reference to the provision of a service in the exercise of a public function.
(4) A public function is a function that is a function of a public nature for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998.
(5) Where an employer arranges for another person to provide a service only to the employer's employees—
(a) the employer is not to be regarded as the service-provider, but
(b) the employees are to be regarded as a section of the public.
(6) A reference to a person requiring a service includes a reference to a person who is seeking to obtain or use the service.
(7) A reference to a service-provider not providing a person with a service includes a reference to—
(a) the service-provider not providing the person with a service of the quality that the service-provider usually provides to the public (or the section of it which includes the person), or
(b) the service-provider not providing the person with the service in the manner in which, or on the terms on which, the service-provider usually provides the service to the public (or the section of it which includes the person).
(8) In relation to the provision of a service by either House of Parliament, the service-provider is the Corporate Officer of the House concerned; and if the service involves access to, or use of, a place in the Palace of Westminster which members of the public are allowed to enter, both Corporate Officers are jointly the service-provider.
(9) Schedule 2 (reasonable adjustments) has effect.
(10) Schedule 3 (exceptions) has effect.