Section 52 — 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 sections 49 to 51.
(2) “Personal office” has the meaning given in section 49.
(3) “Public office” has the meaning given in section 50.
(4) An office or post which is both a personal office and a public office is to be treated as being a public office only.
(5) Appointment to an office or post does not include election to it.
(6) “Relevant person”, in relation to an office, means the person who, in relation to a matter specified in the first column of the table, is specified in the second column (but a reference to a relevant person does not in any case include the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the National Assembly for Wales or the Scottish Parliament).
(7) A reference to terminating a person's appointment includes a reference to termination of the appointment—
(a) by the expiry of a period (including a period expiring by reference to an event or circumstance);
(b) by an act of the person (including giving notice) in circumstances such that the person is entitled, because of the relevant person's conduct, to terminate the appointment without notice.
(8) Subsection (7)(a) does not apply if, immediately after the termination, the appointment is renewed on the same terms.
(9) Schedule 6 (excluded offices) has effect.