Delegated Legislation – in the House of Commons at 7:00 pm on 7 May 2008.
Michael Lord
Deputy Speaker (Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means)
I must now suspend the sitting of the House until such time as will be advised on the Annunciator.
Sitting suspended, pursuant to Order [
Delegated legislation is law made by ministers under powers deriving from Acts of Parliament.
Thousands of pieces of delegated legislation, commonly known as statutory instruments, are passed by Parliament each year.
They enable the government to make minor, technical changes to the law without having to introduce a whole new Act of Parliament.
MPs and peers who want to know what is being discussed in either the Commons or the Lords at any given moment can find out by watching the annunciators.
These are not individuals but television screens that are situated throughout the parliamentary buildings, in corridors and offices.
Apart from the time, they display written details of the business under discussion including the names of members participating in debates.
The annunciators also warn members when a division is about to take place.
