Law in the making

The final report, Law in the Making: Influence and Change in the Legislative Process, concludes that Parliamentary scrutiny does make a difference to legislation and that the widely-held view of Parliament as a ‘rubber stamp’ for government legislation bears little resemblance to reality.

Main findings

Although there is a predominant belief within government that to change a bill is a sign of weakness, parliamentary scrutiny does make a difference to the final shape of an Act.

• MPs and peers, whether individually or collectively, have a larger impact than is commonly recognised.
• External actors have a marked influence on legislation, often by working closely with parliamentarians.
• Parliamentary scrutiny has been enhanced in recent years, with more changes made to government bills.
• Nonetheless, the volume and complexity of legislation continue to inhibit Parliament’s effectiveness.

Recommendations for reform

• More structured and straightforward government consultations.
• An increase in pre-legislative scrutiny.
• Improvements to the committee stage.