Rules and Regulations

HC Deb 21 April 1995 vol 258 cc293-4W

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19365]

Sir John Wheeler

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Forty-six rules and regulations were repealed by my right hon. and learned Friend in the first three months of 1995.

One hundred and thirty-eight new rules and regulations were introduced during the same period including:

14 which repealed earlier instruments or substituted a more favourable regime for business

	The Scottish Office	Scottish Prison Service	Scottish Record Office for Scotland	General Register Office for Scotland
	£	hrs	£	hrs	£	hrs	£	hrs
1994–95	3,227,331	504,735	288,728	42,379	36,480	6,021	32,736	4,264
1993–94	3,172,452	513,598	295,683	43,608	25,459	4,413	34,877	4,769
1992–93	3,296,869	547,691	272,469	41,661	67,896	11,931	43,951	6.021

The Scottish Office figures include all its agencies except the Scottish Prison Service. Individual information on these agencies cannot be provided without disproportionate costs in staff time.

The total number of days lost through sickness in 1992 and 1993, figures for 1994 are not yet available, is as follows:

	The Scottish Office	Scottish Prison Service	Scottish Record Office for Scotland	General Register Office for Scotland
1993	64,890	68,850	1,303	2,976
1992	54,734	55,446	913	3,544

Again, the Scottish Office figures include all its agencies, except the Scottish Prison Service. Individual information on these agencies cannot be provided without disproportionate costs in staff time. Because of the variables involved in this calculation, it is not possible to give the monetary equivalent of days lost to sickness.

• 24 which implemented EU obligations
• Five which facilitated privatisations and competition
• 40 which updated fees and charges or related to local legislation
• 49 which, while not fitting any of the above categories, had no adverse impact on business.