Interpretation Act 1978

Repealing enactmentsU.K.

15 Repeal of repeal.U.K.

Where an Act repeals a repealing enactment, the repeal does not revive any enactment previously repealed unless words are added reviving it.

16 General savings.U.K.

(1)Without prejudice to section 15, where an Act repeals an enactment, the repeal does not, unless the contrary intention appears,—

(a)revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect;

(b)affect the previous operation of the enactment repealed or anything duly done or suffered under that enactment;

(c)affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under that enactment;

(d)affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against that enactment;

(e)affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment;

and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the repealing Act had not been passed.

(2)This section applies to the expiry of a temporary enactment as if it were repealed by an Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4S. 16(1) applied (E.) (temp. from 27.11.2001 until 27.7.2002) by S.I. 2001/3576, art. 3(2)

S. 16(1) applied (27.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3577, art. 3(2)

S. 16(1) applied (27.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3578, art. 3(2)

C6S. 16(1) applied (with modifications) by The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1678), s. 80(3) (the amendment coming into force in accordance with s. 1(2) of the amending S.I.)

C8S. 16(1) applied by The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2846), Sch. ss. 54(3), 55(5) (the application coming into force in accordance with arts. 1(3), 2(1) of the applying S.I.)

C9S. 16(1) applied (with modifications) by The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1751), arts. 75(3), 152(3), 217(3) (the amendments coming into force in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.)

C10S. 16(1) applied by The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/244), arts. 2, 4, Sch. 2 section 41(3) (the amendment coming into force in accordance with arts. 1(2), 2 of the amending S.I.)

C12S. 16(1) modified (17.12.2010) by Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (c. 38), ss. 46(4), 55(1) (with s. 44)

17 Repeal and re-enactment.U.K.

(1)Where an Act repeals a previous enactment and substitutes provisions for the enactment repealed, the repealed enactment remains in force until the substituted provisions come into force.

(2)Where an Act repeals and re-enacts, with or without modification, a previous enactment then, unless the contrary intention appears,—

(a)any reference in any other enactment to the enactment so repealed shall be construed as a reference to the provision re-enacted;

(b)in so far as any subordinate legislation made or other thing done under the enactment so repealed, or having effect as if so made or done, could have been made or done under the provision re-enacted, it shall have effect as if made or done under that provision.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C13S. 17 saved (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 140, 223(2)

C15S. 17 excluded (S.) (20.4.2010) by The Beet Seed (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/67), regs. 1(1), 25(2) (which amending S.S.I. was revoked by S.S.I. 2010/148, reg. 25(1)) and s. 17 excluded (S.) (20.4.2010) by The Beet Seed (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/148), regs. 1(2), 25(3)

C16S. 17(2) excluded (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 16, ss. 103, 104(1), Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 1(6)(7)

S. 17(2) excluded (E.W.S.) (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 17, ss. 44, 46, Sch. 2 Pt. I paras. 1-5 (with s. 38)

S. 17(2) excluded (E.W.S.) (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 18, ss. 241, 243, Sch. 2 Pt. I paras. 1-5 (with ss. 191-195, 202)

S. 17(2) excluded (21.7.1997) by 1997 c. 22, s. 27, Sch. 2 paras. 1-5; S.I. 1997/1672, art. 2

S. 17(2) excluded (E.W.) (19.6.1997) by 1997 c. 25, ss. 73(1), 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 1(6)

S. 17(2) excluded (E.W.) (11.9.1998) by 1998 c. 18, ss. 54(2), 55(2), Sch. 4 para. 6

S. 17(2) excluded (E.W.) (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(3), 168(1), Sch. 11 Pt. I para. 1(5)

S. 17(2) excluded (22.3.2001 with effect in accordance with s. 579(1) of the excluding Act) by 2001 c. 2, s. 579, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 6

S. 17(2) excluded (24.10.2002) by 2002 c. 24, ss. 14, 18(2), Sch. 2 para. 5

S. 17(2) excluded (6.4.2003 with effect in accordance with s. 723(1)(a)(b) of the excluding Act) by The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1), s. 723, Sch. 7 para. 6 (subject to Sch. 7)

S. 17(2) excluded (6.4.2005 with effect in accordance with s. 883(1)(a)(b) of the excluding Act) by The Income Tax (Trading and other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5), s. 883, Sch. 2 para. 6(1)

S. 17(2) excluded (8.2.2007) by The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (c. 36), ss. 124, 126, Sch. 8 para. 5

S. 17(2) excluded (1.3.2007) by The National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 4, 8(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(8) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

S. 17(2) excluded (1.4.2007) by The Parliamentary Costs Act 2006 (c. 37), ss. 17(7), 19, Sch. 2 para. 6

C17S. 17(2) excluded (E.W.) (14.3.2012) by Charities Act 2011 (c. 25), ss. 354, 355, Sch. 8 para. 5 (with s. 20(2))

C22S. 17(2)(b) excluded (24.7.2002) by 2002 c. 23, s. 20(4)