Overview

This Statute Law (Repeals) Bill aims to remove outdated laws from the statute books. The bill, based on recommendations from the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, focuses on repealing or revoking numerous enactments deemed no longer of practical use.

Description

The Bill repeals or revokes various obsolete acts of Parliament across numerous areas of law. These include acts relating to:

• Benevolent Institutions: Numerous acts governing various historical charitable organizations and hospitals (e.g., Charterhouse, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Magdalen Hospital).
• Civil and Criminal Justice: Sections of acts concerning criminal procedure in Scotland, extradition, forgery, fraud, policing, and the sale of public offices.
• Indian Railways: Acts relating to various now-defunct Indian railway companies.
• Ireland (Dublin City): Acts concerning Dublin steam packet companies, hospitals, police, and the general post office.
• Local Courts and Administration of Justice: Acts establishing or relating to local courts across England and Wales.
• London: Acts concerning London churches, improvements, gaslight companies, markets, and other miscellaneous matters.
• Lotteries: Acts relating to historical lotteries.
• Poor Relief: Numerous acts concerning poor relief from various historical periods.
• Railways: A significant number of acts concerning defunct or superseded railway companies across Great Britain and Ireland. This section contains numerous acts relating to abortive railway projects and also covers railway rates and charges.
• Taxation and Pensions: Sections and schedules from several Finance Acts and other tax-related legislation. This includes repeals of specific sections within various Acts and repeals of regulations.
• Turnpikes: Numerous acts relating to historical turnpike trusts in Gloucestershire, Surrey, and along the London to Holyhead road.

Schedule 2 of the Bill includes savings provisions, ensuring that the repeal of certain acts does not affect any elements that remain relevant.

Government Spending

The Bill is expected to have no direct impact on UK government spending, as it only removes obsolete legislation.

Groups Affected

The main groups affected are:

• Legal Professionals: The removal of outdated laws simplifies the legal landscape and reduces the burden on legal professionals navigating complex and obsolete legislation.
• Researchers and Historians: Access to historical legislation remains unchanged, as the repealed laws will be archived.
• Government Agencies: The removal of redundant laws streamlines government operations and reduces administrative burdens.

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