§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) negative and (b) affirmative statutory instruments have been laid by his Department in each year since 1970; what proportion of the negative statutory instruments were the subject of prayers for their annulment; and what proportions of those prayers were debated.
§ Mr. JackFigures can be provided only from the year 1986 onwards without incurring disproportionate costs. These are as follows:
Type of statutory instrument Year Negative resolution Affirmative resolution 1986 78 19 1987 66 13 1988 57 11 1989 72 22 1990 91 14 1991 71 12 1992 98 6 1993 94 5 1994 108 6 It should be borne in mind that not all statutory instruments impose requirements on business and some amend, replace or revoke existing statutory instruments.
No central records are kept of the number of negative statutory instruments which were the subject of a prayer and therefore no information can be supplied on the proportion debated.