§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Lord Privy Seal what was the average number of debates on orders, regulations and other statutory instruments per week in the current and in each of the previous 10 Sessions of Parliament.
§ Mr. BiffenThe average number of debates in the House each week relating to statutory instruments and measuresfor the current Session and each of the previous ten Sessions was as follows:
Year Number of weeks Number of debates Average 1984–85 19 48 2.53 1983–84 42 105 2.50 1982–83 23 51 2.22 1981–82 35 73 2.09 1980–81 33 76 2.30 1979–80 49 109 2.22 1978–79 17 29 1.71 1977–78 33 56 1.70 1976–77 30 59 1.97 1975–76 38 79 2.08 1974–75 40 66 1.65
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take steps to arrange debates on groups of statutory instruments requiring debate on occasional days at the commencement of public business instead of after 10 pm; and if he willmake a statement.
§ Mr. BiffenThere are a great many demands on parliamentary time which must be taken into consideration when arranging debates. My hon. Friend will however wish to know that so far this Session there have been six occasions on which statutory instruments were taken as the first item of public business.