View source for Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Select Committee

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The '''Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee''' is a committee of [[United Kingdom|UK]] parliamentarians. Members are drawn from the [[House of Lords]]. The committee has several primary functions.

==Orders==
The Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee is appointed by the House of Lords in each session with orders of reference "to [[report]] whether the provisions of any bill inappropriately [[Delegated legislation|delegate]] [[Legislature|legislative power]]," or whether they subject the exercise of legislative power to an inappropriate level of parliamentary [[scrutiny]]; to report on [[document]]s and draft orders laid before [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] under the [[Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006]]; and to perform, in respect of such documents and orders and [[Hierarchy|subordinate]] provisions orders laid under that Act, the functions performed in respect of other instruments by the [[Joint committee (legislative)|Joint Committee]] on [[Statutory Instrument]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee − Role of the Committee |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/173/delegated-powers-and-regulatory-reform-committee/role/ |publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref>

==Rationale==
Parliament often and increasingly confers powers on the executive to make [[Delegated legislation|delegated (or secondary) legislation]]. The purpose of such [[legislation]] is often [[Pragmatism|practical]] − to enable [[Minister (government)|ministers]] to make provision at a level of detail inappropriate for inclusion in the Act, or designed to meet changing circumstances. But the powers delegated can also be more substantial − enabling ministers to fill in large gaps left by so-called 'skeleton bills', or to amend and even [[repeal]] [[primary legislation]] ('Henry VIII powers'). Such enabling [[clause]]s in [[Bill (proposed law)|bills]] remove legislation from detailed parliamentary scrutiny. 	

As a result, this [[Select Committee (United Kingdom)|Select Committee]] was set up.

==Working practices==
The committee receives all bills introduced in either House when they reach the Lords. There is no equivalent [[committee]] in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Bills are accompanied by a special [[memorandum]] explaining each of the proposed delegations. The memorandum, [[Publishing|published]] with the committee's report, identifies each of the delegations; describes their purpose; explains why the matter has been left to delegated legislation; and explains the degree of parliamentary control provided for each, and why it is thought appropriate. The committee also has the benefit of an [[opinion]] of its [[Lawyer|legal adviser]]. The committee then examines whether the bill or its parts are appropriate in terms of delegations. In some cases, parts of bills are declared inappropriate. More frequently, recommendations are made to increase the level of parliamentary scrutiny over a particular delegation.

Since the passage of the [[Regulatory Reform Act 2001]], the remit of the committee, and its name, have been extended. It is now the select committee on [[delegated powers]] and [[Regulation|regulatory]] reform. In the case of Regulatory Reform Orders they do not examine the [[policy]] proposed, but whether the statutory tests of the 2001 Act have been met, particularly whether the orders actually reduce regulatory burdens. They also consider whether the proposal is appropriate to be delivered by secondary legislation and at times conclude that this is not the case. Parliament's work in this area is set to expand greatly, with the passage of the Regulatory Reform Act 2006.

==Membership==
As of January 2025, the membership of the committee is as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee − Membership |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/173/delegated-powers-and-regulatory-reform-committee/membership/ |publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
! Member
! colspan=2 | Party
|-
| [[Jane Ramsey, Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath|Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath]]{{0}}{{resize|(Chair)}}
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}}
| Labour
|-
| [[Cathy Bakewell, Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville|{{nobr|Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville}}]]
| {{party color cell|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| {{nobr|Liberal Democrat}}
|-
| [[Shami Chakrabarti|Baroness Chakrabarti]]
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}}
| Labour
|-
| [[Ilora Finlay, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff|Baroness Finlay of Llandaff]]
| {{party color cell|Crossbencher}}
| Crossbench
|-
| [[Paul Goodman, Baron Goodman of Wycombe|Lord Goodman of Wycombe]]
| {{party color cell|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| Conservative
|-
| [[Giles Goschen, 4th Viscount Goschen|Viscount Goschen]]
| {{party color cell|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| Conservative
|-
| [[Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead|Lord Hall of Birkenhead]]
| {{party color cell|Crossbencher}}
| Crossbench
|-
| [[Christine Humphreys|Baroness Humphreys]]
| {{party color cell|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| Liberal Democrat
|-
| [[James Lindesay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay|Earl of Lindsay]]
| {{party color cell|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| Conservative
|-
| [[Ted Rowlands, Baron Rowlands|Lord Rowlands]]
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}}
| Labour
|}

==See also==
*[[List of Committees of the United Kingdom Parliament]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/delegated-powers-and-regulatory-reform-committee/ House of Lords Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform]
* [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/lddelreg.htm Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Reports]

{{UKParliamentCommittees}}

[[Category:Committees of the House of Lords]]