Ignorantia juris non excusat

The Statute Law Database went live to the public yesterday (as pointed out by

liadnan

).

For example, the Requirements of Writing Act 1995 repealed a number of early Scottish statutes on the signing of legal documents.  Despite the repeal in August 1995 these old authentication statutes remain on the database with no reference to their having been repealed (this despite an assertion

I have simply checked legislation I am very familiar with and found the service lacking. No doubt tests in other areas will indicate if this is a general problem or not.  However, while the initiative should be praised in making our laws accessible to us all the database should be treated with considerable caution.

It includes old Acts of the Parliament of Scotland as well as old English statutes, and UK legislation. Devolved legislation is also included. It is not wholly up to date (The Company Law Act 2006 passed over a month ago was not there last night) and having tested it with a few statutes in my own specialisit area last night there are other discernible problems. that revised legislation (the term is defined for the purposes of the database ) is up to date until 2001). 

Additionally, much legislation amended by the detailed schedule of consequential amendments in the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc (Scotland) Act 2000 is still showing as prospective amendments and not yet in force (although in force sfor over two years), and amendments to the 2000 Act by subsequent Acts of the Scottish Parliament (and subordinate legislation) have not been incorporated.

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