asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to debate the White Paper Post-Legislative Scrutiny—the Government's Approach (Cm 7320), published in March. [HL6061]

The Government have no immediate plans to provide time for a debate on the White Paper. The first round of post-legislative scrutiny under the system set out in the White Paper is only just beginning. We will consider further the need for a debate, in the light of how the system develops.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in implementing the proposals in the White Paper Post-Legislative Scrutiny—the Government's Approach (Cm 7320). [HL6062]

The system of post-legislative scrutiny set out in the White Paper is initiated by the submission of a memorandum on the Act by the relevant government department to the departmental Select Committee, generally between three and five years after the Act receives Royal Assent.

This process will begin with Acts that received Royal Assent in 2005. Several departments are currently preparing memoranda for submission to Select Committees in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Officials involved in producing legislation are routinely reminded of the need to identify clear and developed policy objectives when a Bill is presented to Parliament, to serve as a benchmark for future post-legislative scrutiny.