HC Deb 01 February 2002 vol 379 cc580-1W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the President of the Council whether the Government intend to improve the explanatory material supplied with statutory instruments. [32387]

Mr. Robin Cook

I am pleased to announce that, with effect from 1 March, all affirmative statutory instruments laid before the House will be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum, which will be a fuller document than the existing explanatory note. This is intended to assist Parliament in considering the instrument. The new memoranda will be in addition to the explanatory notes, which will continue to be printed with statutory instruments.