DPRRC publishes end of session 2021-2022 report

Article summary

The Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (DPRRC) has published its end of session 2021-2022 report. Its first report of session 2022-2023 follows publication of two thematic reports, by itself and the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC), on the balance of power. These raised an alarm about the relationship between Parliament and the executive, and the way in which many government bills have included broad delegations to the point, on occasion, of being nothing short of skeletal. Aspects of several bills introduced in the latter part of session 2021–2022 reinforced the DPRRC’s findings. Looking forward, the DPRRC expects the bills introduced in this current session to ‘show marked improvements’. In its response to ‘Democracy Denied?’, the government noted that departments are expected to consider the DPRRC’s guidance carefully—an assurance welcomed by the Committee that anticipates ‘seeing evidence of that careful consideration in the coming months’.