HC Deb 11 April 2003 vol 403 c474W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating(a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals. [106331]

Maria Eagle

The Department for Work and Pensions has issued 98 statutory instruments (Sis) between April 2002 and 31 March 2003; a list of these has been placed in the Library. The list includes Sis on matters related to the Health and Safety Commission, which has been sponsored by the Department since 24 July 2002.

The purpose of each of these instruments is set out in the corresponding Explanatory Note of each SI. Many of these instruments are of a routine nature, for example, updating benefit regulations.

Information relating to costs associated with these instruments is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is completed for each regulatory proposal that has more than a negligible impact on business, charities, or the voluntary sector. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published twelve final RIAs in this period. These are available in the Library and on the DWP and HSE websites. The Sis in respect of which these RIAs are published are identified on the list placed in the library.