This is law made by some person or
body, other than Parliament
Parent /enabling Act creates the framework of
the law and then delegates powers to others to
make more detailed law in the area
Orders in council
Includes the Queen and the Privy council
Giving legal effect European Directives
Transferring responsibility between Government departments
Bringing Acts of Parliament into force
The privy council has power to make law in emergency situations
Statutory Instruments
Regulations or orders made by government ministers, they are often used to update law
There are about 15 different departments in the government, each one
deals with different areas of policy and can make rules and regulations
for the area it deals with
By -laws
Cover matters within their own area
Include parking restrictions &
banning drinking in parks
They can be made by
public corporations
Control of delegated legislation
Control is exercised by Parliament and by the courts
Enabling Act
Controls what powers are delegated as the enabling Act sets
out the limits within which any delegated legislation must be
made
Delegated powers scrutiny committee
Located in the HOL
It considers whether the provisions of bills going through
Parliament delegated legislative power inappropriatley
Affirmative resolution
A small number of statutory instruments will be subject to an affirmative resolution. The statutory
instrument will not become law unless specifically approved by Parliament within a specified time,
usually between 28 and 40 days
Negative resolution
Most other statutory instruments will be subject to a negative resolution, which means that the
relevant statutory instrument will be law unless rejected by parliament within 40 days
Joint Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (Scrutiny Committee)
Affirmative resolution procedure
Requires both Houses of Parliament to approve the order: even though the
Minster has recommended this procedure Parliament can still require the
super affirmative resolution procedure to be used
Negative resolution procedure
Where the Minster recommends that this procedure should be used, it will be used unless
within 30 days one of the Houses of Parliament objects to this. If the negative resolution
procedure is adopted, the delegated legislation will not become law until it has been laid
before before Parliament for 40 days
Super - affirmative resolution procedure
Under the Minister must have regard to:
Any representations
Any resolution of either House of Parliament
Any recommendations by committee of either House of Parliament who are asked to report on the draft order
Control by Courts
Delegated Legislation can be challenged in the
courts on the ground that it is ulta vires.
E.g R v Home Secretary, Ex parte Fire Brigades Union (1995)
E.g Aylesbury Mushroom case (1972)
The court will presume that unless an enabling Act expressly allows it, there is
no power to do any of the following