HC Deb 04 May 1993 vol 224 cc11-2W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the groups of actions taken using prerogative powers for which it would incur disproportionately high costs for them to be recorded individually.

The Prime Minister

No.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to record the occasions on which prerogative powers are used where disproportionate costs would not be involved.

The Prime Minister

No.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Prime Minister what prerogative powers have been attenuated by being bought within statute law since 1979.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 1 March at column19, and to the response of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Department's response to the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Garrett) on 21 April at column 492. The relationship between statutory and prerogative powers can be very complex. This complexity would mean examination of each section of each Act passed since 1979 in order to determine whether a prerogative power had been brought within statute law. This would be impracticable and would lead to disproportionate cost.