Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994

The Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994^[1] (c. 40) is an Act of Parliament. It introduced wide-ranging measures with aims including reducing burdens on people in trade created by previous acts such as the Shops Act 1950, changes in transport legislation, changes in utility legislation, and changes in financial services, among others.

Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994

Act of Parliament
Long title	An Act to amend, and make provision for the amendment of, statutory provisions and rules of law in order to remove or reduce certain burdens affecting persons in the carrying on of trades, businesses or professions or otherwise, and for other deregulatory purposes; to make further provision in connection with the licensing of operators of goods vehicles; to make provision for and in connection with the contracting out of certain functions vested in Ministers of the Crown, local authorities, certain governmental bodies and the holders of certain offices; and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation	1994 c. 40
Dates
Royal assent	3 November 1994
Other legislation
Relates to	Regulatory Reform Act 2001
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

It also contained so called Henry VIII clauses, which meant ministers could amend previous primary legislation through order (i.e. drafted by the Secretary of State without a vote in Parliament).

The Act was largely repealed and replaced by the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. Part II of the Act, which as of July 2023^[update] remains in force, includes a general power to outsource "any function of a Minister or office-holder" if the minister "by order so provides".^[2]

Repeals

The following acts were entirely repealed by this act:^[3]

• Shops Act 1950
• Shops (Airports) Act 1962
• Shops (Early Closing Days) Act 1965

The following acts were partially repealed by this Act:^[3]

• Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. 60)
• Licensing Act 1964
• Transport Act 1968
• Post Office Act 1969
• Local Government Act 1972
• Employment Agencies Act 1973
• Fair Trading Act 1973
• Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
• Road Traffic Act 1974
• House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
• Employment Protection Act 1975
• Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976
• Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978
• Merchant Shipping Act 1979
• Competition Act 1980
• Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980
• Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981
• Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1981
• Transport Act 1982
• Telecommunications Act 1984
• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
• London Regional Transport Act 1984
• Cinemas Act 1985
• Insolvency Act 1985
• Transport Act 1985
• Weights and Measures Act 1985
• Gas Act 1986
• Building Societies Act 1986
• Financial Services Act 1986
• Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988
• Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988
• Electricity Act 1989
• Employment Act 1989
• Companies Act 1989
• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1990
• Charities Act 1992
• Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992
• Charities Act 1993
• Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993
• Railways Act 1993
• Sunday Trading Act 1994