Appendix 2
S.I. 2019/306
Pesticides and Fertilisers (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
1.The Committee has asked the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a memorandum on the following point:
Regulation 1(3) states that Part 3 come into force (sic) on a date 10 days later than the date on which these Regulations were laid before Parliament. Explain the reason for the breach of the 21-day rule and why it is not explained in the Explanatory Memorandum.
2.The Department recognises that in respect of this instrument a longer than usual time elapsed between making and laying, and apologises for that delay which resulted in a breach of the 21 day rule.
3.In explanation of that delay, the Committee may be aware that the Department laid an extremely high number of SIs in the period in question (over 40), and this depleted staff resources to concentrate on making. In addition, the Department experienced an unusually high number of rejections during the registration process at this time—an issue we have since resolved through increasing capability and experience in this area, partly as a result of generous staff loans and training from other departments. Our performance in the registrations has as a result improved significantly.
4.The Department remains committed to maintaining transparency and accessibility of new legislation, and it is not our intention to expect or tolerate undue delays between signing, registering and laying made instruments.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
12 March 2019
Published: 22 March 2019