Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the publication and laying of Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 S.I. 2026/368 using a version not signed by a Minister of the Crown was due to human or computer error; and, if the latter, what evaluation they have made of whether the same or similar computer errors will have resulted in other legislation being wrongly published and laid.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The usual procedures within the Department were followed with S.I. 2026/368 and the correct version of the S.I. was signed by the Minister.
However, during the drafting process several versions of the S.I. were created to correct several minor formatting issues, and on examination an incorrect version of the S.I. was then laid before Parliament and published. Whilst the Lawmaker software used to draft S.I.s system may have contributed to the generation of multiple versions of the S.I., it was human error that led to the failure.
The Department has taken steps to address these issues, and has also reviewed improvements to the process to ensure that the version that is sent for registration is clearly identified and confirmed as the correct version.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 24 March (HL15443), what steps the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has taken in the last year to meet its legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation that falls within its area of responsibility should be brought into force.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
Policy teams within the department are responsible for ensuring effective legislative practice within their area, including uncommenced legislation and considering when to bring forward commencement orders. Where needed, they draw on advice of legal professionals and our central legislative functions to support their delivery.