Statutory instrument: what it means
A type of secondary legislation made by ministers using powers in an Act of Parliament, often used to set detailed rules, rates or start dates.
A statutory instrument (SI) is the most common form of secondary (delegated) legislation. An Act of Parliament (the "parent Act") gives ministers power to make more detailed law later, such as setting benefit rates, changing regulations or bringing parts of an Act into force. Several thousand SIs are made in some years.
How Parliament scrutinises them
- Negative procedure: the SI becomes law unless either House objects within a set period. Most SIs follow this route.
- Affirmative procedure: both Houses (or the Commons alone for some financial matters) must actively approve it.
Why it matters when checking a claim
- A claim that a rule "was never voted on" may be accurate for a negative SI; the legislation itself will show which procedure applied.
- Every SI is published with an explanatory memorandum on legislation.gov.uk, with its number and commencement date.
See how to check if a law is in force.
Also searched as: SI, secondary legislation, delegated legislation, statutory instrument meaning, regulations
Questions that use this term
Related terms
- Royal Assent: The monarch's formal agreement that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. Parts of the Act may still not be in force until later.
- Second reading: The first full debate on the main principles of a bill in the House of Commons or House of Lords, usually ending in a vote if opposed.
- Division (vote in Parliament): A formal recorded vote in the House of Commons or House of Lords, in which members' names are listed by how they voted.
More parliament and elections terms: First past the post · Short money · Royal Assent · Second reading · Working majority · By-election · Turnout · Swing · Division (vote in Parliament).