Statutory Instrument

Legislation which will often confer powers on Government Ministers to interpret an Act of Parliament, without needing another full Act of Parliament, in more detail. This allows them to make additional Regulations by means of what is called a Statutory Instrument. This process enables a Government to respond more quickly to events, improving the efficiency and flexibility of governing, and removes the need for lengthy debates which can often delay and stifle the implementation of legislation. An example of this type of regulation is The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 SI (Statutory Instrument) 2677.

There will typically be a number of key characteristics of a Statutory Instrument, including:
• Providing specific requirements which provides more practical arrangements for the implementation of the general principles of primary legislation.
• Enabling effective implementation and enforcement of primary legislation, of example, by providing environmental standards which are to be complied with.
• Being subject to a ‘light version’ of parliamentary debate, which still allows for concerns to be addressed prior to becoming law, and ensures the process complies with democratic principles.
• Maintaining currency and relevance of laws, which is pertinent in a modern relatively fast-moving society, for example, in addressing privacy and cyber security concerns.