HL Deb 13 February 2002 vol 631 cc159-60WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many negative instruments were voted upon during the Parliament of 1997-2001.

  1. (a) on the Floor of the House of Commons;
  2. (b) in a Committee of the House of Commons;

and in each case what percentage of the total number of such instruments this represents. [HL2623]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The following information has been supplied by the House of Commons Journal Office.

Negative instruments laid before the House of Commons and subject to vote on the Floor of the House or in Standing Committee, Session 1997-98 to 2000-01
Session Negatives laid Divisions in House (%) Divisions in Standing Committee (%) Total divisions (%)
1997-98 1,591 2 (0.1%) 3 (0.2%) 5 (0.3%)
1998-99 1,266 1 (0.1%) 3 (0.2%) 4 (0.3%)
1999-2000 1,241 3 (0.2%) 6 (0.5%) 9 (0.7%)
2000-01 717 3* (0.4%) 2 (0.3%) 5 (0.7%)
Total 4,815 9 (0.2%) 14 (0.3%) 23 (0.5%)

* including two on which division deferred to subsequent sitting Wednesday.

Earl Russell

asked her Majesty's Government:

How many negative instruments were withdrawn for re-drafting during the Parliament of 1997-2001 following criticism

  1. (a) inside the House of Commons;
  2. (b) from outside bodies;
and what percentage of the total number of such instruments this represents. [HL2624]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The following information has been supplied by the House of Commons Journal Office.

Instruments subject to negative resolution withdrawn from consideration 1997-98 to 2000-01:
Session Number of instruments withdrawn
1997-98 0
1998-99 0
1999-2000 1
2000-01 1
Total 2

Information on the reasons for withdrawal is not held centrally.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many negative instruments have been defeated on a vote in the House of Commons during the Parliament of 1997-2001; and what percentage of the total number of such instruments this represents. [HL2625]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

None.