describe extrinsic aids

Question 1

what are extrinsic aids

Answer 1

materials outside the statute that judges can refer to in order to help them interpret the meaning of a statute.

Question 2

what is used

Answer 2

hansard, law reports, international conventions, previous cases and textbooks

Question 3

hansard

Answer 3

Official record of parliamentary debates. Judges use it to understand Parliament’s intentions (e.g., Pepper v Hart allowed use when statute wording is unclear).

Question 4

law reports

Answer 4

Reports from agencies like the Law Commission provide insights into statutes’ objectives and issues (e.g., Fraud Act 2006 influenced by Law Commission reports).

Question 5

international conventions

Answer 5

Judges may use treaties to interpret statutes aligned with international obligations (e.g., Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights).

Question 6

previous cases

Answer 6

Judges refer to earlier cases to understand how similar terms were interpreted, ensuring consistency in the law.

Question 7

textbooks

Answer 7

Legal scholars’ works help judges clarify complex principles or understand historical context (e.g., Blackstone’s influence).