Who let the MP's out of the Asylum?

I was looking for something topical to do with the current mess the British MP's have got themselves into over their expenses. How they bleat about how they have done nothing wrong as it was within the framework they had previously agreed. Of course this would be the case, as they can make up any Law they want to (especially if it is to their own benefit). All they need is to convince enough of their colleagues of the benefits and hey presto! you can lead a a very wealthy life at the expense of the taxpayer!

It is fortunate that the politicians can be replaced come the next general election. Although I wonder how many of them will promise you one thing while trying to be elected, and then do something completely different when they have gained a coveted seat in Parliament!

have been trying to find out if some of the daft laws passed by the government over the centuries are still actually active, and have not been repealed. Every now and then the media dig up some interesting titbit that makes you wonder why Parliament do not actually allocte a certain amount of time each year to go through the statute books and repeal obviously outdated, and useless laws.

One such law is that it is illeagal to die in the Houses of Parliament! The reasoning behind this is that a rumour was spread that if you died in the Houses of Parliament, you were entitled to a State Funeral. Maybe this rumour started because on the site of the present Parliament used to be the Palace of Westminster, home for many of the medieval Monarchs, who would have been entitled to a State Funeral. What puzzles me, is that no one has discovered any concrete evidence about State Funeral entitlement, so why the need to make a law about something that doesn't exist!

Another daft Law is that "All English Men over 14 are meant to carry out 2 hours (or so) of longbow practice a week supervised by the local clergy". Again I can understand the need for this Law after the battle of Agincourt in 1415. Why hasn't this law been repealed? Perhaps the law could be amended to fit into todays society by changeing the word Longbow to Darts, and Clergy to Publicans! Then at least we would become a nation of darts champions!

Does anyone actually know if there is an official website that has every currently active British Law avaiable to see? Or is that a closely guarded secret that only the Politicians and the Lawyers are allowed to know about?