§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Lord Privy Seal how many statutory instruments required affirmative approval as a requirement for coming into, or remaining in effect; how many were subject to the negative procedure; and how many statutory instruments subject to no parliamentary procedure were laid before either or both Houses of Parliament, in each of the last 30 years.
§ Mr. Biffen[pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1985, c. 90]: The information requested is only readily available for the last 13 years; these figures are listed below and are on a sessional basis. Information for earlier sessions could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Instruments requiring Affirmative approval Instruments requiring Negative procedure Instruments: No parliamentary procedure 1983–84 180 947 56 1982–83 99 493 32 1981–82 121 721 63 1980–81 130 793 56 1979–80 235 1,095 88 1978–79 89 517 45 1977–78 141 757 48 1976–77 127 669 37 1975–76 158 906 66 1974–75 147 1,039 90 1974 75 433 25 1973–74 40 396 29 1972–73 94 368 22 Source: This information is taken from the Delegated Legislation Return, which lists those instruments considered by the Joint Committee and the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments.