Delegated Legislation – in the House of Commons at 6:48 pm on 16 March 2022.
Nigel Evans
Deputy Speaker (Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means)
I call Wera Hobhouse to present her petition.
Wera Hobhouse
Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Women and Equalities)
I said no to the statutory instrument motion, Mr Deputy Speaker.
Nigel Evans
Deputy Speaker (Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means)
I did say “With the leave of the House,” but am I able to take the second motion again? [Interruption.] No, it has already passed. I am sorry; you should have shouted more loudly, Wera. You could have come up and told me, and that would have been a lot clearer. I gave the opportunity.
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.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
