HC Deb 03 April 1985 vol 76 cc593-4W
Mr. Galley

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many Acts of Parliament have been promoted and how many statutory instruments made by his Department, or predecessor Departments covering his areas of responsibility, in each of the last 20 years.

Mr. Peter Walker

Her Majesty's Stationery Office publishes annually "Lists of Statutory Instruments" and "Tables and Indices to Public and General Acts and General Synod Measures". Both of these are currently up to date to the end of 1983.

The number of Acts promoted by the Department of Energy, and statutory instruments made, during each year from the creation of the Department in January 1974 to the end of 1984 is as follows:

Acts SIs
1974 35
1975 2 44
1976 3 76
1977 2 73
1978 1 24
1979 29
1980 2 45
1981 4 37
1982 2 51
1983 3 107
1984 186
19 707

Given the changes to the machinery of Government over the last 20 years, apportionment of the Acts or statutory instruments — including some of those in the above list — to the areas of present ministerial responsibility could be done only at disproportionate cost.