The Continuance of Laws (No. 2) Act 1797 (38 Geo. 3. c. 9) was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain that continued various older acts.
Background In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed.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.
The Select Committee on Temporary Laws, Expired or Expiring reported on 12 May 1796, which inspected and considered all the temporary laws, observed irregularities in the construction of expiring laws continuance acts, made recommendations and emphasised the importance of the Committee for Expired and Expiring Laws.
Provisions
Continued enactments The act continued the Courts (Newfoundland) Act 1795 (35 Geo. 3. c. 25), the Shipping Act 1795 (35 Geo. 3. c. 80), Merchandise in Neutral Ships Act 1796 (36 Geo. 3. c. 76) "relating to the Admission of certain Articles of Merchandize in Neutral Ships, and the issuing of Orders in Council for that Purpose" and the Merchandise in Neutral Ships Act 1796 (37 Geo. 3. c. 12) "authorizing His Majesty to make Regulations respecting the Trade and Commerce to and from the Cape of Good Hope" until 6 weeks after the start of the next session of parliament.
Subsequent developments The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 116), which came into force on 21 August 1871.
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