§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many (a) affirmative and (b) negative statutory instruments were passed in 1995, and between 1st January 1996 and 31st October 1996; and how many of the negative instruments were prayed against in either House of Parliament.
The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne):The information is not available in the form requested, as statistics are kept on a sessional rather than a calendar year basis. In Session 1994-95, 1,210 instruments and 55WA draft instruments subject to annulment were considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. Four Motions to annul or revoke negative instruments were debated in the House of Lords and six were debated in the House of Commons. None of these motions was agreed to. In Session 1995–96, 1,189 instruments and draft instruments subject to annulment were considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. One Motion to annul or revoke a negative instrument was debated in the House of Lords and seven were debated in the House of Commons. None of these motions was agreed to. In Session 1994–95, the House of Lords approved 127 affirmative instruments and draft instruments and the House of Commons approved 173. The equivalent figures for Session 1995–96 are 137 for the House of Lords and 173 for the House of Commons.