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Statute Law Repeals
Commissioner
Chairman
Team member
Mrs Susan Sutherland, Project Manager
Miss Susan Robb, Solicitor
One of the Commission's functions is to recommend the repeal of obsolete legislation. We undertake much of this work jointly with the Law Commission for England and Wales.
The purpose of repealing obsolete legislation is to modernise and simplify the statute book, reduce its size and make it easier for people to use. This helps to avoid people being misled by outdated legislation that appears to be current law. Further details about the process of repealing legislation are available in a background note.
The Repeals Bills are drafted by the Law Commission and we undertake consultation in Scotland on the Scottish proposals for repeal. We consult with the Scottish Government and other authorities in Scotland who are interested in the subject matter of the proposed repeals.
Our latest report
The most recent Statute Law Repeals Report (the 18th report in the series) was published on 29 January 2008. A draft Bill to give effect to the repeal proposals contained in the report was included. The Bill was approved by the UK Parliament without amendment. The Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008 (c12) came into force at Royal Assent on 21 July 2008. A news release is available. Full details of the repeal proposals are set out in the Notes on the Bill.
We are now working with the Law Commission on preparation of the Nineteenth Statute Law Repeals Bill and Report.
Recent consultations
Two Pennies Scots
In this consultation paper we are proposing the repeal of sixteen late 18th/early 19th century Acts which enabled certain local burghs in Scotland to levy a duty of 2 pennies Scots (equivalent to one sixth of an old penny sterling) on every Scots pint of ale, porter or beer brewed or sold in the burgh.
The Acts allowed the duty to be collected for a limited period of time. In each case the period concerned has long since expired and the Acts are therefore obsolete. These repeal proposals relate to Scotland only.
The consultation period on these repeal proposals is now closed.
Courts and Administration of Justice
We have undertaken consultation in Scotland on proposed repeals relating to Courts and Administration of Justice. The provisions of the Acts concerned apply in the main to England and Wales only and their repeal is likely to have little impact in Scotland. For further information see the Law Commission's SLR project page on their website.
The consultation period on these repeal proposals is now closed.
For more general information, please contact: susan.sutherland@scotlawcom.gov.uk
Page last updated: 12 February 2010
