§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of statutory instruments introduced by his Department into Parliament in(a) 1998, (b) 1992, (c) 1985 and (d) 1973 had the European Union as their legislative source. [89163]
§ Mr. MealeThe total number of Statutory Instruments (SIs) registered as General Instruments in 1998, 1992, 1985 and 1973 is listed in the table. Of the SIs so registered in 1998, 306 were made by my Department, of which 9.9 per cent. were made (either wholly or as to part) to comply with Community obligations. As a result of machinery of government changes, it is impracticable, without incurring disproportionate cost, to determine how many of the SIs made in 1992, 1985 and 1973 by the predecessor departments of my Department were introduced to comply with Community obligations.
Year Number of SIs 1998 1,565 1992 1,692 1985 1,204 1973 1,260 Source:
Statutory Publications Unit of HMSO: an SI is classified as a General Instrument if it is in the nature of a Public General Act. SIs may otherwise be registered as Local Instruments if they are in the nature of local or private Acts. SIs implementing EC/EU legislation will always be classified as General Instruments.