HC Deb 17 November 1953 vol 520 cc142-3W
84. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Statutory Instruments were in operation at the latest convenient date.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Some 450 Statutory Instruments made under emergency legislation were in force on 12th November, 1953. In addition, some 8,200 Statutory Instruments made under permanent legislation are still in force. These include those dealing with a number of subjects which it would be exceedingly difficult to provide for by statute, such as the regulations dealing with safety precautions for road traffic and vehicles, mines and quarries and merchant shipping. There are also the Instruments to regulate the National Health Service, pension schemes, etc. In addition, this figure includes the rules of court of all the superior courts.

I have not included Instruments classified as local, which are many, but which would require a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour to enumerate.