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    Blog

    Tractor spraying chemicals on crops
    blog / 08.04.22

    Genetically modified organisms: Primary or delegated legislation?

    A Statutory Instrument comes into force on 11 April that changes the legal requirements for the release of certain types… of genetically modified plants. Some argue that the changes should have been made by primary, rather than delegated, legislation. Where does the boundary between the two lie?

    Genetically modified organisms: Primary or delegated legislation?
    Bird's-eye view of the Palace of Westminster, UK Houses of Parliament
    blog / 04.04.22

    Constitution and Governance in the UK: Parliament and Legislation

    The Brexit process, the pandemic and the approach of the Johnson Government have all tended towards Parliament’s margina…lisation and the accretion of executive power. For UK in a Changing Europe’s report on the constitutional landscape, we show how – in the legislative process and control of public money and executive action, including delegated legislation.

    Constitution and Governance in the UK: Parliament and Legislation
    Roman Abramovich's yacht
    blog / 15.03.22

    What role does the UK Parliament play in sanctioning an individual? [Video]

    Sanctions are imposed on an individual in two stages - by Ministers first making regulations and secondly designating th…e individual, using a power in those regulations. Parliament has a role in the first stage, but not the second.

    What role does the UK Parliament play in sanctioning an individual? [Video]
    EU and UK flags superimposed on Big Ben, UK Parliament, Westminster
    blog / 24.02.22

    Brexit ‘Freedoms’, Risks and Opportunities? Certainty and uncertainty in the rev…ision of retained EU Law

    The UK Government’s ‘Benefits of Brexit’ Policy Paper proposes allowing changes to retained EU law to be made "more easi…ly" via delegated legislation. This raises constitutional concerns about the undermining of Parliament’s legislative authority.

    Brexit ‘Freedoms’, Risks and Opportunities? Certainty and uncertainty in the revision of retained EU Law
    Vladimir Putin address to citizens 2 April 2020 Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_address_to_citizens_2020-04-02.jpg Attribution: 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Source: The Russian Presidential Press and Information Office (http://kremlin.ru/)
    blog / 22.02.22

    Russia-Ukraine crisis: how are sanctions Regulations made and how does Parliamen…t scrutinise them?

    The UK’s new Russia sanctions Regulations, being debated by the House of Commons on 22 February 2022 with one day’s noti…ce, highlight the use of delegated legislation to introduce sanctions regimes and the challenges posed for parliamentary scrutiny of urgent measures.

    Russia-Ukraine crisis: how are sanctions Regulations made and how does Parliament scrutinise them?
    Royal Courts of Justice
    blog / 04.02.22

    The care placement Regulations and the courts: too many holes in the net of parl…iamentary scrutiny?

    A forthcoming judicial review on children-in-care highlights parliamentarians’ inability to challenge only certain aspec…ts, rather than the whole, of a Statutory Instrument. Courts can and do provide an important backstop against unlawful use of delegated powers, but this does not diminish the need for better parliamentary oversight of delegated legislation.

    The care placement Regulations and the courts: too many holes in the net of parliamentary scrutiny?
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    Publications

    Photo of Acts of Parliament in the Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament, Westminster
    publications / reports / 2022

    Compendium of Legislative Standards for Delegating Powers in Primary Legislation

    The scope and design of the delegation of legislative powers in any Bill affects the long-term balance of power between…Parliament and Government. The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (DPRRC) scrutinises all such delegation. This report distils standards for the delegation of powers from 101 DPRRC reports from 2017 to 2021.

    Compendium of Legislative Standards for Delegating Powers in Primary Legislation
    publications / submissions / 2022

    Written evidence to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee: the Restorat…ion and Renewal of Parliament

    Our submission to the Public Accounts Committee highlighted the financial and practical challenges that MPs face in deci…ding the fate of Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal programme. We particularly questioned the viability of the proposal to continue operating the House of Commons Chamber in the middle of a building site.

    Written evidence to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee: the Restoration and Renewal of Parliament
    Houses of Parliament, Westminster, UK
    publications / submissions / 2022

    Written evidence to the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee: Retained E…U Law: Where next?

    Our submission to the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee inquiry into retained EU law (REUL) placed the issue…in the context of our Delegated Legislation Review. It discussed REUL’s diversity and amendment; the people and organisations to whom REUL amendment may matter; and parliamentary scrutiny of delegated legislation arising from amending REUL.

    Written evidence to the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee: Retained EU Law: Where next?
    Silhouette of businessman against the Russian flag
    publications / briefings / 2022

    The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill: four delegated powers th…at should be amended to improve future accountability to Parliament

    The Bill seeks to crack down on ‘dirty money’ and corrupt elites in the UK and is being expedited through Parliament fol…lowing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This briefing identifies four delegated powers in the Bill that should be amended to ensure future accountability to Parliament.

    The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill: four delegated powers that should be amended to improve future accountability to Parliament
    FAQs
    publications / 2021

    Delegated Legislation: Frequently Asked Questions

    What is delegated legislation? What is Parliament’s role in it? And what is a ‘Henry VIII’ power? We answer your questio…ns

    Delegated Legislation: Frequently Asked Questions
    The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, making a statement to the House of Commons updating Members on Covid-19, 8 December 2021 (©) House of Commons / Jessica Taylor
    publications / briefings / 2021

    What Covid Regulations might MPs be asked to debate on 14 December and how will…the Regulations be approved?

    What Covid Regulations will the House of Commons debate on 14 December, and how? Amid backbench unrest, the occasion wil…l be shaped by the interplay between delegated legislation scrutiny, parliamentary procedures, and raw politics. The outcome could have profound consequences for both public health policy and the Prime Minister’s position.

    What Covid Regulations might MPs be asked to debate on 14 December and how will the Regulations be approved?
    Prev
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    Events

    Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House (UK Houses of Parliament)
    events / 19.01.22

    Parliamentary Scrutiny, Evidence and the Rule of Law: Lessons from the pandemic…and beyond

    What information and evidence does Parliament need to enable it to oversee government law-making? Is Parliament currentl…y provided with sufficient information and, if not, how can this be improved?

    Parliamentary Scrutiny, Evidence and the Rule of Law: Lessons from the pandemic and beyond
    Panel discussion during the launch event for the Delegated Legislation Review
    events / 02.11.21

    Launch of the Hansard Society Delegated Legislation Review

    On 2 November, the Society launched its Delegated Legislation Review to an audience of MPs, Peers and constitutional exp…erts. The event – which included two panel discussions with Members from across the political spectrum and a keynote address by Steve Baker MP – unpacked the problems with the delegated legislation system and explored avenues for reform.

    Launch of the Hansard Society Delegated Legislation Review
    House of Lords
    events

    House of Lords Speaker Hustings 2021

    The Hansard Society hosted two online hustings for the candidates in the 2021 Lord Speaker election. The first event, on… 25 March, was chaired by the BBC’s parliamentary correspondent Mark D’Arcy; and the second, on 13 April, was chaired by Jackie Ashley, former political correspondent and broadcaster.

    House of Lords Speaker Hustings 2021
    First sitting of the House of Commons after the State Opening of Parliament
    events

    House of Commons Speaker hustings 2019

    On 15 October 2019, all nine original candidates to be the new Speaker of the House of Commons participated in a husting…s event in Westminster, hosted jointly by the Hansard Society and The House magazine, and chaired by the BBC’s Carolyn Quinn.

    House of Commons Speaker hustings 2019
    Britain Votes 2017 cover image
    events / 20.03.18

    Launch of ‘Britain Votes 2017’

    On 20 March, Professor Sir John Curtice and a panel of leading commentators outlined their findings at the launch of the… first major study of the 2017 general election, ‘Britain Votes 2017’.

    Launch of ‘Britain Votes 2017’
    A crowd of people in Ethiopia with their hands up
    events / 29.11.17

    Deepening democracy: reconciling parliaments and people through public engagemen…t

    Join us for the launch of our new Global Research Network on Parliaments and People, with a keynote speech on ‘Deepening… Democracy’ by Baroness Amos.

    Deepening democracy: reconciling parliaments and people through public engagement
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