The Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee is appointed by the House of Lords in each session with orders of reference "to report whether the provisions of any bill inappropriately delegate legislative power," or whether they subject the exercise of legislative power to an inappropriate level of parliamentary scrutiny; to report on documents and draft orders laid before Parliament under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006; and to perform, in respect of such documents and orders and subordinate provisions orders laid under that Act, the functions performed in respect of other instruments by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.
[1] Parliament often and increasingly confers powers on the executive to make delegated (or secondary) legislation.
The purpose of such legislation is often practical − to enable ministers to make provision at a level of detail inappropriate for inclusion in the Act, or designed to meet changing circumstances.
More frequently, recommendations are made to increase the level of parliamentary scrutiny over a particular delegation.
Parliament's work in this area is set to expand greatly, with the passage of the Regulatory Reform Act 2006.