Issues in Law-Making

The Hansard Society published a series of briefing papers on Issues in Law-Making. Each paper has reviewed a key element of the legislative process in the United Kingdom.  For more information please click on the links below. 

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 1: Private Members' Bill (May 2003)  looks at Private Members' Bills and considers options for change.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 2: Standing Committees (Jul 2003) considers the role and effectiveness of standing committees in the House of Commons. Since the publication of this paper, Standing Committees have been renamed Public Bill Committees and changes have been introduced to how they operate.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 3: Delegated Legislation (Dec 2003) is on delegated legislation, an area of the legislative process that has been subject to considerable criticism in recent years with numerous calls for reform.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 4: Programming of Legislation (Apr 2004) looks at looks at the history and context of the programming of legislation, recent reforms, criticisms, and further proposals for change.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 5 : Pre-Legislative Scrutiny (Jul 2004) calls for the extension of pre-legislative scrutiny in order to further strengthen the way in which Parliament makes the law.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 6 : Post-Legislative Scutiny (May 2005) considers ways in which Parliament could review the laws that it passes and adds to calls for a more systematic programme of scrutiny to be introduced.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 7 : European Union : The Regulatory Environment (Oct 2005) explores the nature of regulations originating in the EU, and their impact on British law and policy.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 8 : Parliamentary Scrutiny of European Union Business (Mar 2006) examines how Westminster considers the activities of the EU and holds UK ministers to account. It analyses the strengths and weaknesses of current scrutiny arrangements.

Issues in Law Making - Briefing Paper 9 : Joint Committees (Jun 2006) looks at the role of joint committees in the parliamentary and legislative process. It concludes that joint committees and other forms of collaboration between select committees represent an important model for improving the work of Parliament.