12th Report - Representation of the People Bill Health Bill Infant (Born Alive) Protection Bill [HL] Local Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill [HL] Short-term Leases (Disclosure of Information) Bill [HL]

The government's response

What the committee recommended 1

1. 26
   We recommend that the reference in clause 2(2)(e) to signs of life being determined by... Recommendation

Sources

• 12th Report - Representation of the People Bill Health Bill Infant (Born Alive) Protection Bill [HL] Local Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill [HL] Short-term Leases (Disclosure of Information) Bill [HL] ↗The committee's report, parliament.uk

Recommendations and conclusions 1

1. 26
   We recommend that the reference in clause 2(2)(e) to signs of life being determined by... Recommendation Recommendation (the committee's words)

   We recommend that the reference in clause 2(2)(e) to signs of life being determined by guidance under section 4 should be removed from the Bill. Any provision that adds to a statutory definition should be contained, not in ministerial guidance, but in regulations subject to the affirmative procedure. It cannot be right that the meaning of an important legislative provision can be changed by ministerial guidance, particularly where such guidance is not even required to be laid before Parliament. In Democracy Denied? (para 94) we said that “requirements which have legislative effect should always be expressed in legislative language, either in primary or secondary legislation, and subject to parliamentary oversight ”. 6 Department of Health and Social Care, Memorandum from the Department of Health and Social Care to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (10 September 2026) 7 Written evidence from Eden Openly and from the National Lead Governors Association (NLGA) to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (10 September 2026 and 29 September 2026) 8 DPRRC, Democracy Denied? The urgent need to rebalance power between Parliament and the Executive (12th Report, Session 2012–22, HL Paper 106). 9 Department of Health and Social Care, Memorandum from the Department of Health and Social Care to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (10 September 2026): < Back Next > © Parliamentary copyright 2026 A-Z index Glossary Contact us Freedom of Information Jobs Using this website Copyright Privacy notice Cookie policy Cookie Manager House of Lords - Twelfth Report - Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Committee Publications > All Select Committee Publications > Lords Select Committees > Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform > Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Twelfth Report Contents Private member’s bills