Final answer:
The original statute of frauds required written evidence for certain kinds of contracts but the British government has repealed the writing requirement for most contracts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original statute of frauds is the English law that began the practice of requiring written evidence of certain kinds of contracts, but now the British government has repealed the writing requirement for most contracts. The Statute of Frauds originated in England in 1677 and was designed to prevent fraudulent claims in certain types of contracts, such as those involving the sale or transfer of land, promises to pay a debt, and agreements that could not be performed within one year.
However, over time, the requirement for written evidence has been relaxed in many cases. In the United Kingdom, the Law Reform (Enforcement of Contracts) Act 1954 removed the writing requirement for contracts for the sale of goods, as long as other evidence of the agreement is available. Other exceptions to the writing requirement include contracts that have been partly performed, contracts made in court, contracts that are required by law to be in writing, and contracts between merchants that are confirmed in writing.
Overall, while the original statute of frauds required written evidence for certain contracts, the British government has repealed the writing requirement for most contracts, allowing oral contracts to be enforceable in many cases.