In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed.

[1] In 1806, the Commission on Public Records passed a resolution requesting the production of a report on the best mode of reducing the volume of the statute book.

[2] By the early 19th century, British customs law, relating to trade, navigation, the import and export of goods, and the collection of customs revenue, had become increasingly intricate and difficult to navigate due to the large number of acts passed that had accumulated over many years.

[4] The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 2 March 1894, presented by the President of the Board of Trade, A. J. Mundella MP.

[4] That order was discharged and the bill was committed to a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons on 11 April 1894.

[7] The bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 16 August 1894, introduced by the Lord Chancellor, Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell, and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 17 August 1874, without amendments.

[7] A Motion by the Lord Chancellor Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell, not to re-commit the bill to the Standing Committee passed on 17 August 1894 and the bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 20 August 1854 and passed, without amendments.

[8] Section 745 of the act included several safeguards to ensure continuity during the transition, specifically preserving the validity of existing Orders in Council, licenses, certificates, bylaws, rules, appointments, established bodies, banking institutions, document references, shipping registrations under the Merchant Shipping Act 1854 (17 & 18 Vict.