Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament in each Session since the 1997 General Election.

The number of statutory instruments laid before Parliament is recorded in the sessional returns. The House of Commons Library produce publications on this matter which show that the numbers peaked in the 2005-2006 session. The latest figures show that the number of UK statutory instruments laid before the House of Commons in each session since 1997 are as follows:

• 1997-98: 1856

• 1998-99: 1479

• 1999-00: 1456

• 2000-01: 868

• 2001-02: 1788

• 2002-03: 1474

• 2003-04: 1281

• 2004-05: 793

• 2005-06: 1885

• 2006-07: 1361

• 2007-08: 1319

• 2008-09: 1302

• 2009-10: 823

• 2010-12: 1809

• 2012-13: 964

• 2013-14: 1173

• 2014-15: 1378

• 2015-16: 540 (so far in this session)