§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many statutory instruments have been(a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by his Department since I January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case. [64640]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe Department for Work and Pensions has introduced 52 statutory instruments between 1 January and 30 June 2002. Thirty-six of these were amendment instruments; eight were commencement instruments; two were Regulatory Reform Orders; one
516Wwas a revocation order. Many of the instruments concerned were of a routine nature, for example, updating benefit regulations.
Information relating to costs and savings associated with these instruments, and to repealed and amended regulations, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is completed for each regulatory proposal which impacts on business, charities, or the voluntary sector, unless there are no or negligible costs. The Department for Work and Pensions has published four final RIAs in this period, three of which identified savings for business. These RIAs are available in the House Libraries and on the Department's website.