Appropriation Act facts for kids

An Appropriation Act is a special law in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Think of it like a permission slip from Parliament. It allows the government's money department, called the Treasury, to take money from a big government bank account called the Consolidated Fund.

But an Appropriation Act does more than just let the Treasury take money. It also "appropriates" these funds. This means it decides exactly how that money will be spent. It tells individual government departments (like the Department for Education or the Ministry of Defence) and other official groups exactly how much money they get and what they can use it for. In the past, these laws were also passed by the Parliament of Great Britain.

How an Appropriation Act Works

Each Appropriation Act has sections called "schedules." These schedules contain tables. These tables clearly show how the money taken from the Consolidated Fund is divided up.

• Each government department or group that receives money is listed.
• The tables show what the money can be spent on.
• They also show the total amount of money allowed for use.

It's very important that the money is spent only for the purposes it was approved for. If the money isn't spent by the end of the fiscal year (which is the government's financial year), it must be returned to the Consolidated Fund.

The law usually starts with a "long title." This title explains which financial years the Act covers. After that, there's a "preamble." This is like an introduction that explains the reason for the law. For Appropriation Acts, this introduction has special wording. It states that the elected members of Parliament (the Commons) have agreed to let the government use resources and money from the Consolidated Fund to pay for things the Queen (or King) has asked for.

For a long time, until the year 2000, a slightly different introduction was used.

An Appropriation Act usually covers two or more financial years. It also typically cancels any older Appropriation Acts or similar laws that are no longer needed.

What Happens After an Appropriation Act?

An Appropriation Act usually stops being active once the financial year it covers is finished. This means the rules for spending that specific year's money are no longer in effect.

Historical Appropriation Acts

Over many centuries, the UK Parliament has passed numerous Appropriation Acts to manage government spending. Here are some examples from different periods:

18th Century Acts

Quick facts for kids Appropriation Act 1775
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Citation	15 Geo. 3. c. 42

• The Act 15 Geo. 3. c. 42 (1775)

• The Appropriation Act 1776 (17 Geo. 3. c. 47)

• The Appropriation Act 1778 (18 Geo. 3. c. 54)

• The Appropriation Act 1790 (30 Geo. 3. c. 32)

• The Appropriation Act 1795 (35 Geo. 3. c. 120)

• The Appropriation Act 1796 (36 Geo. 3. c. 126)

• The Appropriation Act 1797 (37 Geo. 3. c. 144)

• The Appropriation Act 1798 (38 Geo. 3. c. 90)

Appropriation Act 1799
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An act for granting to his Majesty a certain sum of money out of the consolidated fund, for applying certain sums of money therein mentioned, for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine; and for further appropriating the supplies granted in this session of parliament.
Citation	39 Geo. 3. c. 114
Dates
Royal assent	12 July 1799
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed

• The Act 39 Geo. 3. c. 114 (1799)

19th Century Acts

Early 1800s

• The Appropriation Act 1800 (41 Geo. 3. (G.B.) c. 14)
• The Appropriation, etc. Act 1801 (41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 84)
• The Appropriation Act 1802 (42 Geo. 3. c. 120)
• The Appropriation Act 1803 (43 Geo. 3. c. 162)
• The Appropriation Act 1804 (44 Geo. 3. c. 110)
• The Appropriation Act 1805 (45 Geo. 3. c. 129)
• The Appropriation Act 1806 (46 Geo. 3. c. 149)
• The Appropriation Act 1807 (47 Geo. 3 Sess. 2. c. 76)
• The Appropriation Act 1808 (48 Geo. 3. c. 148)
• The Appropriation Act 1809 (49 Geo. 3. c. 128)

1810s

Appropriation Act 1810
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for granting to His Majesty certain Sums of Money out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain, and for applying certain Monies therein mentioned, for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and ten; and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	50 Geo. 3. c. 115
Dates
Royal assent	20 June 1810

• The Appropriation Act 1810 (50 Geo. 3. c. 115)

Appropriation Act 1811
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for granting to His Majesty certain Sums of Money out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain; and for applying certain Monies therein mentioned, for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and eleven; and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	51 Geo. 3. c. 117
Dates
Royal assent	26 June 1811

• The Appropriation Act 1811 (51 Geo. 3. c. 117)

Appropriation Act 1812
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for granting to His Majesty certain Sums of Money out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain, and for applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and twelve; and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	52 Geo. 3. c. 154
Dates
Royal assent	28 July 1812

• The Appropriation Act 1812 (52 Geo. 3. c. 154)

Appropriation Act 1816
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for granting to His Majesty a certain Sum out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain, and for applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and sixteen; and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	56 Geo. 3. c. 142
Dates
Royal assent	2 July 1816
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1873
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1816 (56 Geo. 3. c. 142)

Appropriation Act 1817
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and seventeen, and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	57 Geo. 3. c. 132
Dates
Royal assent	12 July 1817

• The Appropriation Act 1817 (57 Geo. 3. c. 132)

Appropriation Act 1818
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Citation	58 Geo. 3. c. 101
Dates
Royal assent	10 June 1818

• The Appropriation Act 1818 (58 Geo. 3. c. 101)

Appropriation Act 1819
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An act for applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and nineteen; and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	59 Geo. 3. c. 133
Dates
Royal assent	13 July 1819

• The Appropriation Act 1819 (59 Geo. 3. c. 133)

1840s

Appropriation Act 1842
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to apply a Sum out of the Consolidated Fund, and certain other Sums, to the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and forty-two, and to appropriate the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	5 & 6 Vict. c. 121
Dates
Royal assent	12 August 1842
Text of statute as originally enacted

• The Appropriation Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vict. c. 121)

1860s

Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Act 1864
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to apply a Sum out of the Consolidated Fund and the Surplus of Ways and Means to the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and to appropriate the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	27 & 28 Vict. c. 73
Dates
Royal assent	29 July 1864
Text of statute as originally enacted

• The Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Act (1864) (27 & 28 Vict. c. 73). This Act became law on 29 July 1864.

1870s

Appropriation Act 1870
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to apply a sum out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the year ending the thirty-first day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, and to appropriate the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	33 & 34 Vict. c. 96
Dates
Royal assent	10 August 1870
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1966
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 96). This Act became law on 10 August 1870. Parts of it were later changed or cancelled by other laws.

Appropriation Act 1871
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to apply a sum out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the year ending the thirty-first day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and to appropriate the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.
Citation	34 & 35 Vict. c. 89
Dates
Royal assent	21 August 1871
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1883
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

• The Appropriation Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 89). This Act became law on 21 August 1871.

Appropriation Act 1872
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	35 & 36 Vict. c. 87
Dates
Royal assent	10 August 1872
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1883
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 87). This Act became law on 10 August 1872.

Appropriation Act 1873
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	36 & 37 Vict. c. 79
Dates
Royal assent	5 August 1873
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1883
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1873 (36 & 37 Vict. c. 79). This Act became law on 5 August 1873.

Appropriation Act 1874
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	37 & 38 Vict. c. 56
Dates
Royal assent	7 August 1874
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1883
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1874 (37 & 38 Vict. c. 56). This Act became law on 7 August 1874.

Appropriation Act 1875
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	38 & 39 Vict. c. 78
Dates
Royal assent	13 August 1875
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1883
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 78). This Act became law on 13 August 1875.

• The Appropriation Act 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 60). This Act became law on 15 August 1876.

• The Appropriation Act 1877 (40 & 41 Vict. c. 61). This Act became law on 14 August 1877.

• The Appropriation Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 65). This Act became law on 16 August 1878.

• The Appropriation Act 1879 (42 & 43 Vict. c. 51). This Act became law on 15 August 1879.

1880s

Appropriation Act 1880
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	43 Vict. c. 13
Dates
Royal assent	24 March 1880
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1894
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1880 (43 Vict. c. 13). This Act became law on 24 March 1880.

Appropriation Act 1880 (Session 2)
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	43 & 44 Vict. c. 40
Dates
Royal assent	7 September 1880
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1894
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1880 (Session 2) (43 & 44 Vict. c. 40). This Act became law on 7 September 1880.

Appropriation Act 1881
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	44 & 45 Vict. c. 56
Dates
Royal assent	27 August 1881
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1894
Status: Repealed

• The Appropriation Act 1881 (44 & 45 Vict. c. 56). This Act became law on 27 August 1881.

Appropriation Act 1882
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	45 & 46 Vict. c. 71
Dates
Royal assent	18 August 1882

• The Appropriation Act 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. 71). This Act became law on 18 August 1882.

Appropriation Act 1883
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	46 & 47 Vict. c. 50
Dates
Royal assent	25 August 1883

• The Appropriation Act 1883 (46 & 47 Vict. c. 50). This Act became law on 25 August 1883.

21st Century Acts

2010s

Appropriation Act 2010
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to authorise the use of resources for the service of the years ending with 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010 and to apply certain sums out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the year ending with 31 March 2010; and to appropriate the supply authorised in this Session of Parliament for the service of the years ending with 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010.
Citation	2010 c. 5
Dates
Royal assent	18 March 2010
Text of the Appropriation Act 2010 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

Appropriation Act 2011
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to authorise the use of resources for the service of the years ending with 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2011 and to apply certain sums out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the years ending with 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2011; and to appropriate the supply authorised in this Session of Parliament for the service of the years ending with 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2011.
Citation	2011 c. 2
Dates
Royal assent	16 March 2011
Text of the Appropriation Act 2011 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2012
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to authorise the use of resources for the years ending with 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013; to authorise the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund for those years and for the year ending with 31 March 2011; and to appropriate the supply authorised by this Act for the years ending with 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2012.
Citation	2012 c. 1
Dates
Royal assent	8 March 2012
Text of the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2012 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2012
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to authorise the use of resources for the year ending with 31 March 2013; to authorise both the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund and the application of income for that year; and to appropriate the supply authorised for that year by this Act and by the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2012.
Citation	2012 c. 13
Dates
Royal assent	17 July 2012
Text of the Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2012 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

• The Appropriation Act 2010 (c. 5)
• The Appropriation Act 2011 (c. 2)
• The Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2012 (c. 1)
• The Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2012 (c. 13)

Appropriation Acts in Northern Ireland

The Parliament of Northern Ireland also passed its own Appropriation Acts. These laws helped manage how money was spent within Northern Ireland. Today, similar rules are made through special government orders for Northern Ireland.

See also

• List of short titles
• Appropriations bill (United States)