Articles on themes including the mental wellbeing of politicians, the efficacy of the petitions system in the UK Parliament and devolved legislatures, the rate of equivocacy in former Prime Minister Theresa May’s answers during PMQs, the emergence of international inter-parliamentary institutions, and more.
Latest
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 currently provided with sufficient information and, if not, how can this be improved?
Living on a prayer (motion): How do parliamentarians debate ‘made negative’ Statutory Instruments?
A recent House of Lords debate on a ‘made negative’ Statutory Instrument highlights Peers’ greater appetite and ability to secure such debates compared to MPs. Data on debate lengths suggests parliamentarians are more likely to give meaningful scrutiny to SIs that they wish to debate than those on which they are obliged by current procedures to spend time.
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 questions
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 will 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.
In it for the long haul: HGV driver shortage Statutory Instruments show scrutiny system shortcomings
Statutory Instruments (SIs) have been a key tool in the government’s response to shortages of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers. These SIs showcase the usefulness of this type of law-making but also highlight again some of the longstanding problems with its parliamentary scrutiny.
SLSC & DPRRC reports 24 Nov 2021 - joint post by Chairs
XXX