Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1975

The Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1975 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its primary purpose was to repeal a large number of obsolete, spent, unnecessary, or superseded enactments from the statute book. These enactments were identified as no longer serving a practical purpose and their continued presence in the statute book added unnecessary complexity to legal research.

The Act formed part of a broader ongoing effort by the Law Commission to simplify and modernise statute law through regular statute law revision exercises. These exercises identify redundant or obsolete legislation and recommend their repeal to Parliament. The aim is to make the law more accessible and easier to understand by removing unnecessary clutter.

The Act itself does not create new law; rather, it removes existing laws. The specific enactments repealed by the Act are listed in its schedules. These repealed enactments cover a wide range of subject areas and legislative periods.

The Act is significant because it demonstrates the ongoing process of statute law revision and highlights the importance of maintaining an up-to-date and relevant body of legislation. It contributes to the overall efficiency and accessibility of the legal system. The effects of the Act are primarily felt by legal professionals, academics, and anyone needing to research or apply statutory law. They benefit from the reduced volume of statutes to consider.