Question
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government which Acts of Parliament have been subject to post-legislative review in pursuance of the policy to review Acts three to five years after enactment.[HL1176]
The first post-legislative review Command Paper was published in December 2008 on the Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Act 2005 (Cm 7504) and the second in June 2009 on the Railways Act 2005 (Cm 7660). Three further papers are due to be published by the end of February 2010.
Command Papers on other Acts passed in 2005 are being developed and will be published by the Summer Recess in 2010, unless the department has negotiated an extension with the relevant departmental select committee of the House of Commons. Subsequent Acts will publish reviews within three to five years of Royal Assent.
In March 2008, the Cabinet Office produced detailed guidance for departments on post-legislative scrutiny (available on the Cabinet Office website). A system has also been put in place to ensure that all departments are working on producing Command Papers for Select Committees on the implementation of each Act.