Defined term

“public authority”

Defined in 110 Acts, 60 statutory instruments and 3 EU-derived instruments.

  1. Agriculture Act 1970 Act
  2. Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Act
  3. Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 Act
  4. Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Act 2015 Act
  5. The Banking Act 2009 ( ... Payment Systems) (Disclosure and Publication of Specified Information) Regulations 2010 SI
  6. Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 Act 2 definitions
  7. British Nationality Act 1981 Act 2 definitions
  8. The British Nationality (British Overseas Territories) Regulations 2007 SI
  9. The British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003 SI
  10. Capital Allowances Act 2001 Act
  11. Care Act 2014 Act
  12. Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 Act
  13. Civil Evidence Act 1995 Act
  14. The Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) Regulations 2012 SI 2 definitions
  15. Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 Act
  16. The Community Interest Company Regulations 2005 SI
  17. Companies Act 2006 Act 3 definitions
  18. Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 Act
  19. The Competition Act 1998 (Competition and Markets Authority's Rules) Order 2014 SI
  20. The Competition Act 1998 (Determination of Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2024 SI
  21. The Competition Act 1998 (Office of Fair Trading’s Rules) Order 2004 SI
  22. The Competition Act 1998 (Research and Development Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2022 SI
  23. The Competition Act 1998 (Technology Transfer Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2026 SI
  24. The Competition Act 1998 (Vertical Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2022 SI
  25. The Competition Appeal Tribunal Rules 2015 SI
  26. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Order 2011 SI
  27. Consumer Rights Act 2015 Act
  28. Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 Act
  29. The Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 SI
  30. The Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 SI
  31. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order 2013 SI
  32. Crime and Policing Act 2026 Act
  33. Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 Act
  34. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 SI
  35. Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 Act 3 definitions
  36. Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Act 2000 Act
  37. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 Act
  38. The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 SI
  39. Data Protection Act 2018 Act 5 definitions
  40. The Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018 SI
  41. Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 Act 3 definitions
  42. Digital Economy Act 2017 Act 5 definitions
  43. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Turnover and Control) Regulations 2024 SI 4 definitions
  44. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (CMA Consumer Enforcement Rules) Regulations 2025 SI
  45. The Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026 SI
  46. Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 Act
  47. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Act 3 definitions
  48. Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Act 2 definitions
  49. Education and Inspections Act 2006 Act
  50. The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 SI
  51. Employment Rights Act 2025 Act
  52. Energy Act 2023 Act 3 definitions
  53. English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 Act
  54. The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers and Market Investigations) (Determination of Control and Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2024 SI
  55. Enterprise Act 2016 Act
  56. Environment Act 1995 Act
  57. Environment Act 2021 Act 3 definitions
  58. The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 SI 2 definitions
  59. The Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 SI
  60. Equality Act 2010 Act 2 definitions
  61. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 SI
  62. European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 Act
  63. European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 Act
  64. Finance Act 2011 Act
  65. Finance Act 2021 Act
  66. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Offers of Securities) Order 2001 SI
  67. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 SI
  68. The Financial Transparency (EC Directive) Regulations 2009 SI
  69. Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 Act
  70. Football Governance Act 2025 Act
  71. Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 Act
  72. Freedom of Information Act 2000 Act 2 definitions
  73. Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 Act
  74. Government of Wales Act 2006 Act 7 definitions
  75. Greater London Authority Act 1999 Act
  76. Health and Social Care Act 2008 Act
  77. The Health and Social Care (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2009 SI
  78. Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 Act
  79. The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 SI
  80. Healthcare (International Arrangements) Act 2019 Act
  81. Highways Act 1980 Act 2 definitions
  82. Housing Act 1996 Act
  83. Housing and Planning Act 2016 Act 2 definitions
  84. Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 Act
  85. The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 SI
  86. The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 SI
  87. Human Rights Act 1998 Act
  88. Immigration Act 2016 Act 2 definitions
  89. The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 SI
  90. The Immigration (Residential Accommodation) (Prescribed Requirements and Codes of Practice) Order 2014 SI
  91. The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 SI
  92. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 Act 2 definitions
  93. Inheritance Tax Act 1984 Act
  94. Inquiries Act 2005 Act
  95. The INSPIRE Regulations 2009 SI 5 definitions
  96. The International Interests in Aircraft Equipment (Cape Town Convention) Regulations 2015 SI
  97. Investigatory Powers Act 2016 Act
  98. The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 SI
  99. Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 Act 2 definitions
  100. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Act 3 definitions
  101. Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Act 6 definitions
  102. Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 Act 2 definitions
  103. Local Government Finance Act 1988 Act
  104. Local Transport Act 2008 Act
  105. Localism Act 2011 Act 4 definitions
  106. The Magistrates’ Courts (Functions of Authorised Persons – Civil Proceedings) Rules 2020 SI
  107. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Act 4 definitions
  108. The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 SI
  109. Mental Capacity Act 2005 Act
  110. Modern Slavery Act 2015 Act
  111. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (Duty to Notify) Regulations 2015 SI
  112. National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 Act
  113. National Insurance Contributions Act 2022 Act
  114. National Security Act 2023 Act
  115. National Security and Investment Act 2021 Act
  116. The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (Monetary Penalties) (Turnover of a Business) Regulations 2021 SI
  117. Nationality and Borders Act 2022 Act 2 definitions
  118. Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 Act
  119. The NHS Bodies and Local Authorities (Partnership Arrangements, Care Trusts, Public Health and Local Healthwatch) Regulations 2012 SI
  120. Northern Ireland Act 1998 Act 5 definitions
  121. Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 Act
  122. Nuclear Installations Act 1965 Act 3 definitions
  123. The Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005 SI
  124. The Occupational Pension Schemes (Regulatory Own Funds) Regulations 2005 SI
  125. The Occupational Pension Schemes (Scheme Funding) Regulations 2005 SI
  126. The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 SI
  127. Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 Act
  128. Pensions Act 2004 Act
  129. Planning Act 2008 Act
  130. Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Act
  131. Police Act 1996 Act
  132. Prison Act 1952 Act
  133. Procurement Act 2023 Act
  134. The Prohibition of Cross-Examination in Person (Civil and Family Proceedings) Regulations 2022 SI
  135. Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 Act 2 definitions
  136. Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 Act
  137. Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 Act
  138. The Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023 SI 2 definitions
  139. Public Service Pensions Act 2013 Act
  140. Registration Service Act 1953 Act
  141. Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts or to measure the performance of investment funds and amending Directives 2008/48/EC and 2014/17/EU and Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Text with EEA relevance) EU regulation
  142. Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation) (Text with EEA relevance) EU regulation
  143. Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC EU regulation
  144. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Act
  145. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 SI
  146. The Reserve Forces (Payments to Employers and Partners) Regulations 2014 SI
  147. The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013 SI
  148. Scotland Act 1998 Act
  149. Serious Crime Act 2007 Act 4 definitions
  150. Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Act
  151. Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 Act
  152. Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 Act 2 definitions
  153. The Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 SI
  154. The Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) Regulations 2000 SI 2 definitions
  155. The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 SI
  156. Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 Act 2 definitions
  157. Subsidy Control Act 2022 Act 3 definitions
  158. Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 Act
  159. The Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017 SI
  160. Trade Act 2021 Act
  161. Transport and Works Act 1992 Act
  162. United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 Act
  163. The Valuation for Rating (Coronavirus) (England) Regulations 2023 SI
  164. Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 Act
  165. Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 Act 2 definitions
  166. The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 SI 2 definitions
  167. Wales Act 2017 Act
  168. Water Act 1973 Act
  169. Water Act 1989 Act
  170. Water Act 2003 Act
  171. Water Industry Act 1991 Act
  172. Water Resources Act 1991 Act
  173. Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 Act

Definitions are taken from the instruments as published on zoomLaw, for guidance only. Check the instrument itself for its scope and any amendments.