ABSTRACT
Parliament’s intention is not to be found by substituting the reader’s presumption as to that intention in place of the clear meaning of the words used. Similarly, it is not for the reader to assume that Parliament has used words idly. Except when it is impossible to do so effect must be given to every word in the Act. The reader must bear in mind that ‘a statute is never supposed to use words without a meaning.’1 The rule is that if it can be prevented, no clause, sentence, or word shall be superfluous, void, or insignificant,2 and that accordingly the reader should ‘give proper weight if possible to every word used’.3
