Continuance of Laws Act 1694

In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed. Many acts of parliament, however, contained time-limited sunset clauses, requiring legislation to revive enactments that had expired or to continue enactments that would otherwise expire. == Passage ==

Following the expiry of the Licensing of the Press Act 1662 (14 Cha. 2. c. 33) in 1694, a committee was appointed on 30 November 1964 to inspect laws "lately expired and expiring which are fit to be revived and continued". The committee was enlarged on 3 January 1695. The amended bill was returned to the House of Commons on 8 April 1695. The amendments, except for the continuation of the Licensing of the Press Act 1662 (14 Cha. 2. c. 33), were agreed to by the Commons on 17 April 1865, with detailed reasons expressing concerns about penalties under the act and the monopoly by the Company of Stationers. At a conference on 18 April 1695, the Lords allowed the bill to proceed without renewing the 1662 act. The Lords waived their amendments on 19 April 1695. The amended bill was granted royal assent on 22 April 1695. == Provisions ==

Continued enactments Section 1 of the act made the Benefit of Clergy, etc. Act 1691 (3 Will. & Mar. c. 9), as continued by the Estreats (Personal Representatives) Act 1692 (4 Will. & Mar. c. 24), perpetual. Section 2 of the act made the Fraudulent Devises Act 1691 (3 Will. & Mar. c. 14) perpetual. Section 3 of the act continued the Judgment Act 1692 (4 Will. & Mar. c. 20) until the end of the next session of parliament after 1 year from the expiry of that act (which was the end of the next session of parliament after 25 March 1693). == Subsequent developments ==

The Select Committee on Temporary Laws, Expired or Expiring, appointed in 1796, inspected and considered all temporary laws, observing irregularities in the construction of expiring laws continuance acts, making recommendations and emphasising the importance of the Committee for Expired and Expiring Laws. The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 59), which came into force on 15 July 1867. == Notes ==