Several pieces of Britain's oldest legislation is to be revoked after 747 years.
In 1267, the Statute of Marlborough was passed under Henry III, containing 29 sections. To give a sense of just how antiquated these laws are, the Statute predates the incorporation of the Magna Carta into English law.
Today, four of those sections remain in force. Two of these four, regarding debt collection, have been deemed unnecessary to keep after the passing of new laws on the matter earlier this year.
The Law Commission has put forward dozens of laws they believe to be "obsolete" to be revoked. 56 Acts of Parliament and sections of 49 others, relating to topics from merchant shipping to guard dogs, are under consideration to be removed from the statute books.
Chapters 4 and 15 of the Statute of Marlborough will remain in force and apply to England and Wales. The two surviving chapters regard the forbidding of an individual for seeking revenge on a debt non-payment without the permission of the court, and the second chapter stops tenants from "ruining or selling off" their land.
A public consultation is in progress to check that the laws put forward for revocation are no longer being used. Following that consultation, a relevant bill will be drawn up to be put to Parliament in 2015.
