Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008

 

Junior justice minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, introduced a Bill to promote the reform of the statute law by the repeal, in accordance with recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, of certain enactments which, except in so far as their effect is preserved, are no longer of practical utility, and to make other provision in connection with the repeal of those enactments.

Lord Bach (Lab), on behalf of the junior justice minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, opened second reading debate of the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill in the Lords on March 18 2008.

He began by noting the statutory functions of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission to promote the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments.  He said the Bill under discussion “proposes the repeal of more than 250 whole Acts and the removal of obsolete provisions from nearly 70 others”.

Bach confirmed that the Law Commissions have consulted fully with interested bodies on all the proposed repeals.

Lord Henley (Con) and Lord Thomas of Gresford (Lib Dem) spoke in support of the Bill.

Lord Rooker (Lab), Defra minister, commented that the oldest Act on the statute book after this Bill is enacted will be the “Minors shall not be MPs Act 1695”.

The Bill was thus committed to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.

 

 

House of Lords

First reading: February 27 2008 [HL Bill 37]

Second reading:  March 18 2008

Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills:

• 1st day: May 19 2008

Third reading: June 2 2008

House of Commons

First reading: June 2 2008: [HC Bill 115]

Second reading: July 9 2008

Third reading: July 9 2008

Royal Assent: July 21 2008