The Committee examines the policy merits of regulations and other Statutory Instruments that are subject to parliamentary procedure.
The Committee also scrutinises Public Bodies Orders to consider whether they meet the tests set out in section 8 of the Public Bodies Act 2011: these require the Minister to demonstrate that the Order improves the efficiency, effectiveness, economy and accountability of public functions.
Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Reports on Statutory Instruments
Through its reports, the Committee draws to the "special attention of the House" any statutory instrument (SI) laid in the previous week which it considers may be interesting, flawed or inadequately explained by the Government. Since the enactment of the Public Bodies Act 2011 the Committee also has responsibility of determining whether public bodies orders meet the statutory tests laid out in that Act. The Committee's current full terms of reference provide more detail.
Scrutiny Timescales
It normally comments on statutory instruments within 12-15 days of their being laid before Parliament. This leaves plenty of time for any Member of the House to pursue the issues raised by asking a question or tabling a motion for debate within the 40 day ''prayer'' period for rejecting negative instruments.
Committee Structure
The eleven members of the Committee are drawn from all the main political parties and the cross-benchers, and act on behalf of the House to ensure that every statuory instrument receives a degree of scrutiny. Their reports flag up those SIs they find to be interesting or flawed in some way.