HL Deb 31 March 1977 vol 381 cc1094-6WA
Baroness YOUNG

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) which recommendations of the Renton Report (Cmnd. 6053) have now been implemented;
  2. (ii) which recommendations they now intend to implement;
  3. (iii) how many Public Bills which have become law since the publication of the report have failed to meet the criteria laid down in recommendation No. 105;
  4. (iv) and whether they will make a statement following their consideration of the Report.

The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones)

Government Ministers have previously indicated that they regard the recommendations in the Renton Report as comprising a comprehensive and valuable summary of the best drafting practice. The relevant recommendations are being taken into account in the drafting of all current Government legislation. The Government consider, however, that it is essential that Parliamentary draftsmen should retain discretion to apply the recommendations relating to drafting practice in accordance with the requirements of particular legislation.

Sixty-five Public Bills (including Private Members' Bills but excluding Consolidation Bills) enacted since the Renton Report was published in 1975 failed to satisfy one or other of the first two criteria in recommendation No. 105:

  1. (a) that there should be at least two weekends between the first publication of a Bill and the debate on Second Reading in the First House; and
  2. (b) there should be at least 14 days between Second Reading and the start of the Committee stage.
It is not possible to give a precise answer to the question how many such Bills have failed to satisfy criterion (c); namely, that, on all Bills of considerable length or complexity, there should be at least 14 days between publication of the Bill as amended in Committee and the start of the Report stage.

The Government fully recognise the need for reasonable intervals between the stages of legislation in order to ensure adequate time for Parliamentary scrutiny. Their present aim, except at the beginning of a Session, does not differ greatly from the intervals proposed by the Renton Committee. But there are bound to be instances when the intervals have to be less.