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Public authority and public body meaning

What does Public authority and public body mean?
In legal practice, ‘public authority’ and ‘public body’ describe organisations that exercise governmental or statutory functions, including central, regional and local government, NHS bodies, universities, police and bodies governed by public law. Under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, their meaning follows freedom of information legislation: the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (and, in Scotland, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002). This captures a wide range of listed authorities and certain publicly owned companies. Under the EU GDPR (including in Ireland) the terms are not defined in the Regulation; they are descriptive labels whose scope is determined by national law. The EDPB considers the notions broad enough to include public bodies in third countries and, where appropriate, international organisations; for third‑country bodies, status is assessed under the body’s domestic law. In Ireland, interpretation is typically informed by the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and sector‑specific statutes. Classification matters: it affects the lawful basis (Article 6(1)(e) public task/official authority), the ban on using legitimate interests by UK public authorities when acting as such, and mandatory Data Protection Officer appointment. Usage is broadly consistent across the UK and Ireland, though the legislative sources differ.
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View the related News about Public authority and public body

NEWS
Commercial law weekly: ASA weight-loss ads rulings and airline baggage pricing probe; EWHC wet-lease force majeure decision; HMRC customs guidance; Procurement Act 2023 commencement—18 December 2025

In this issue: Advertising, marketing and sponsorship Contracts International Public procurement Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&A Commercial Highlights 2025/2026 Advertising, marketing and sponsorship ASA rulings—17 December 2025 The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received six objections about adverts for weight-loss medicines and services, covering promotion of prescription-only medicines, irresponsible body-image messaging and gender stereotyping, plus assertions that a medicine assists beyond its authorised indication. The ASA upheld the complaints. See: LNB News 17/12/2025 20. Which? finds budget airlines’ cabin bag fees far higher than advertised Consumer's Association (Which?) carried out research into budget airline bag pricing, finding that major carriers such as RyanAir and Easyjet routinely fail to include in the advertised total the realistic cost of baggage. Which? has referred its findings to the ASA for misleading 'from' price claims and the ASA is investigating. See: LNB News 15/12/2025 14....

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NEWS
UK Local Government Weekly: Social Care Direct Payments, Rent Repayment Defences, Procurement Privilege Waiver, A38 DCO JR, Welsh Language Scheme Ruling, and Policy Updates (DfE, DHSC, Elections) (24 October 2024)

In this issue Social care Social housing Public procurement Planning Judicial review Education Healthcare Governance Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Social care Direct payments representative not a standard authorisation of property and affairs deputyship—Lumb (SSB) v NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB Managing direct payments from a personal health budget as a ‘representative’ under the National Health Service (Direct Payments) Regulations 2013 does not sit within the usual authorisations of a property and affairs deputyship. A health body may appoint a property and affairs deputy as ‘representative’ under regulation 5(4), yet that role extends beyond the remit of a standard deputyship appointment. Likewise, the functions of a ‘nominee’ under the 2013 Regulations are not encompassed by standard deputyship powers. The Court of Protection can, however, make a targeted appointment granting a deputy authority specifically to oversee direct payments in line with the 2013 Regulations. A case manager is an...

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NEWS
Financial services regulatory highlights—UK and EU: FCA priorities, Consumer Duty, EMIR/MiFIR, OPRR, DORA, enforcement, payments, ESG and key dates—week to 26 February 2026

In this issue: Authorisation, approval and supervision Prudential requirements Operational resilience Financial crime and sanctions Consumer protection Complaints, compensation and claims management Investigations, enforcement and discipline Regulation of capital markets Regulation of derivatives Sustainable finance and ESG Banks and mutuals EU MiFID II Consumer credit, mortgage and home finance Regulation of insurance Payment services and systems Fintech and cryptoassets Dates for your diary New and updated content Financial Services Enforcement Database Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk®Financial Services: a Lexis®Nexis community Authorisation, approval and supervision The Financial Conduct Authority has unveiled streamlined annual Regulatory Priorities reports, replacing over forty portfolio letters. The slimmer format cuts publications to nine sector‑specific reports, each delivering a one‑page summary of priorities with direct links to fuller guidance. Updated every year, the reports are intended to clarify what the regulator expects from firms while lightening the compliance load....

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View the related Practice Notes about Public authority and public body

PRACTICE NOTES
The Pensions Regulator's moral hazard powers: contribution notices and financial support directions: tests, procedure, reasonableness, guidance, case law, clearance and Pension Schemes Act 2021 criminal offences

The Pensions Regulator (the Regulator) The Regulator is an arm’s-length public body set up under the Pensions Act 2004 (PeA 2004). Its authority to impose contribution notices and financial support directions appears in PeA 2004, ss 38–50. Although the Act does not use the label, these provisions are widely known as the Regulator’s ‘moral hazard’ powers. Their purpose is to counter the ‘moral hazard’ arising from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF): the possibility that corporate groups might organise their structures so as to heighten exposure within their pension schemes, comfortable that the PPF would intervene if the employer entered insolvency. The principal moral hazard tools—and the only ones exercised so far—are the power to issue a contribution notice (CN) and the power to issue a financial support direction (FSD). A CN compels the recipient to pay a specified amount into a defined benefit occupational pension scheme. A CN can be issued where the criteria in PeA 2004, s 38 are satisfied. These mechanisms exist to deter behaviour that would...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Film and Television Law Glossary: Terms C–D—copyright, collecting societies, broadcasting, distribution

Film and TV glossary A–B Film and TV glossary E–H Film and TV glossary I–L Film and TV glossary M–P Film and TV glossary R–S Film and TV glossary T–W CAP Code for non-broadcast media The UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (the CAP Code) serves as the principal framework governing non-broadcast adverts, promotional sales activity and direct marketing messages. It is drafted by the Committee on Advertising Practice (CAP), a self-regulatory body whose membership comprises organisations representing advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing and media industries. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) polices the CAP Code and may require the withdrawal or amendment of any advertisement that contravenes these standards. Refer to Practice Note: Advertising law and regulation. Channel 4 Channel 4 operates as a ‘publisher-broadcaster’: it produces no programmes internally, commissioning content from production companies across the UK. Cinematograph film Under the Copyright Act 1956 (CA 1956), films gained protection as...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards in Mauritius: New York Convention framework, procedure, and public policy defences, with Privy Council guidance (Betamax) and Supreme Court approach (Cruz City)

The Mauritian legal system Mauritius operates a mixed legal order, blending French civil law heritage with British common law traditions. It exhibits a dual structure: procedures in both criminal and civil proceedings are largely English in origin, while much of the substantive framework derives from the French Napoleonic Code. The jurisdiction therefore embodies both civil law and common law traits, reshaped to suit domestic requirements and yielding a distinctive body of Mauritian law. This duality appears in the separate regimes applicable to domestic and international arbitration. Rules for domestic arbitration are set out in the Civil Procedure Code 1808 (Code de Procédure Civile) (CPC), drawn from a French version, whereas international arbitration falls under the International Arbitration Act 2008 (IAA 2008), modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (the Model Law). For further detail on arbitration in Mauritius, see Practice Notes: Arbitration in Mauritius and International arbitration in Mauritius. Notably, the International Arbitration Act 2008 (the IAA 2008) omits the enactment of articles 35 and 36...

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View the related Precedents about Public authority and public body

PRECEDENTS
Contracting authority partner access clause—direct contracting with supplier, buyer authorisation, incorporation of terms, procurement compliance, reporting and rebate

Definitions Partner(s) • refers to EITHER: [ the following: [ insert names of partners ] OR those [ insert type of group, eg councils or academies in a geographical area or a type of public body ], as described in the Find a Tender service (FTS) Notice. ] The expression Partner(s) shall be understood accordingly. Partner Contract • denotes any arrangement, whatever its form, between the Supplier and the Partner(s) that stems from this Agreement. 1 Use of Agreement by Partner(s) The Supplier accepts and agrees that the Buyer has entered into this Agreement for its own benefit and for the benefit of the Partner(s). Beyond supplying the [ Goods OR Services OR Works ] to the Buyer under this Agreement, the Supplier shall also supply such [ Goods OR Services OR Works ] to any Partner that makes a request, PROVIDED THAT doing so shall not disrupt, compromise, or diminish the level of service the Supplier provides to...

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PRECEDENTS
Deed of Planning Obligation under Section 106 TCPA 1990 (England): Precedent covering financial contributions, section 278 Highways Act 1980 works, open space, affordable housing, public art and biodiversity net gain

This Agreement is entered into on [ insert date ] of [ insert month ] [ insert year ] by and between: [ insert name ], of [ insert address ] (' Council '); [ insert name ], of [ insert address ] (' County Council '); [ insert name ], a company duly incorporated and registered in [ insert details ] under number [ insert details ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (' Developer '); [ Additional parties as necessary eg owner, landlord, mortgagee, option holder etc. ] (' [ insert additional parties as necessary eg owner, landlord, mortgagee, option holder etc ] '). Recitals The Council is the local planning authority for the purposes of section 106 of the 1990 Act for the area within which the Land is situated and is the body by whom the obligations contained in this Deed are enforceable. The County Council is the local highway...

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PRECEDENTS
Sanctions compliance definitions, seller warranties and covenants for short-form asset purchase agreement

Insert the following definitions as new definitions into clause 1 of Precedent: Asset purchase agreement—short form: 1 Definitions and interpretation Sanctioned Activity • means any act subject to sanctions imposed by the Sanctioning Body; Sanctioning Body • includes the United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union, plus any other relevant local, national or multinational governmental agency, ministry, official parliament, public or statutory person, or any governmental or professional body, regulator or supervisory authority, board or other entity charged with imposing and/or administering sanctions; Sanctioned Entity • denotes any individual or organisation that is, or that is owned or controlled ...

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