Perpetuation of Laws Act 1540
The Perpetuation of Laws Act 1540 was an act of the Parliament of England that made perpetual various older enactments.
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In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed.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.Provisions
Continued enactments
Section 1 of the act made the Abjuration, etc. Act 1530, the Benefit of Clergy Act 1531, the Standing Mute, etc. Act 1533, the Buggery Act 1533 and the Abjuration (Benefit of Clergy) Act 1536 perpetual.Section 2 of the act provided that persons in holy orders who claimed benefit of clergy for felony should be branded on the hand and thereafter subject to the same punishments and forfeitures as laymen.
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making recommendations and emphasising the importance of the Committee for Expired and Expiring Laws.The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1863.