HC Deb 17 March 1948 vol 448 cc2095-6
68. Mr. David Renton

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Statutory Rules and Orders were in force on 17th March, 1947; and how many Statutory Instruments and Statutory Rules and Orders are in force at the present date.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Glenvil Hall)

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. I am, however, glad to be able to inform the House that the publication of the Triennial Index of Statutory Rules and Orders in force, which was suspended during the war, has now been resumed. The latest edition of this index, which was published by the Stationery Office last week, gives the Statutory Rules and Orders which were made under powers granted by Parliament up to 31st December, 1946, and which were in force on 31st December, 1947.

Mr. Renton

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give the House some idea of the number of Orders now in force. Is he aware that attention to this overwhelming mass of Orders is dissipating the energy of the nation and curbing our enterprise? Will the right hon. Gentleman state what steps the Government are taking to keep them in check?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how the ordinary subject can be expected to observe provisions which the Government cannot even number?

Mr. Nicholson

Does the right hon. Gentleman seriously claim that individual Departments do not know how many Orders they have in force?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

That was not the Question I was asked. I was asked the total numbers that were both published and in force at a given date, and it would mean a great deal of labour which, at the moment, it is felt it would be undesirable to devote to keeping this day to day record.

Mr. Scollan

Would my right hon. Friend tell the House whether these things are peculiar to St. Patrick's Day?