HC Deb 23 July 1973 vol 860 cc283-4W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of times and the statutes in which retrospection has been authorised in Acts originating in his Department which have received the Royal Assent in the past three years.

Mr. Lane

Of the Acts originating in the Home Office which have received Royal Assent in the past three years the only one which contained provisions having effect from a date prior to its passing was the Northern Ireland Act 1972. This provided that limitations on the power of the Stormont Parliament contained in the Government of Ireland Act 1920 should not have effect, and should be deemed never to have had effect, so as to preclude the inclusion in legislation passed by Stormont of certain provisions relating to Her Majesty's Forces. The Immigration Act 1971, while not containing any provisions which render illegal any acts which were legal at the time they were committed, does provide power to remove illegal immigrants who previously could not be removed.