The Continuance of Laws Act 1787 (27 Geo. 3. c. 36) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that continued various older acts.
In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed.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. [1]
Section 1 of the act continued the until the Hides and Skins Act 1769 (9 Geo. 3. c. 39) "as relates to the free importation of certain raw hides and skins from Ireland, and the British plantations in America", as continued by the Continuance of Laws, etc. Act 1774 (14 Geo. 3. c. 86) and the Continuance of Laws Act 1781 (21 Geo. 3. c. 29), from the expiration of those enactments until the end of the next session of parliament after 1 June 1791. [2]
Section 2 of the act continued the Exportation Act 1776 (16 Geo. 3. c. 37) "as relates to allowing the exportation of certain quantities of wheat, and other articles to his Majesty's sugar colonies in America", as continued by the Exportation (No. 2) Act 1776 (17 Geo. 3. c. 28), the Exportation Act 1778 (18 Geo. 3. c. 16), the Continuance of Laws Act 1779 (19 Geo. 3. c. 22), the Continuance of Laws (No. 2) Act 1780 (20 Geo. 3. c. 19) and the Continuance of Laws Act 1781 (21 Geo. 3. c. 29), from the passing of the act until 1 May 1788. [2]
Section 3 of the act continued the Exportation (No. 4) Act 1786 (26 Geo. 3. c. 89) from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament. [2]
Section 4 of the act continued the Exportation Act 1756 (29 Geo. 2. c. 15), as continued by the Exportation (No. 4) Act 1770 (10 Geo. 3. c. 38) and the Bounties Act 1779 (19 Geo. 3. c. 27), from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament after 24 June 1788. [2]
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. [3]
The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 116).