There are several different kinds of motions that apply to Statutory Instruments such as approval motions tabled against affirmative instruments or prayer motions that object to an instrument. The following queries break down the different types and the following steps that can arise as a result of a motion being tabled.
Currently our procedure maps do not go into the level of detail required for motions and decisions in either House. We are working on mapping both motions and their decisions at the moment:
The Government must table a motion to approve an affirmative instrument if the instrument is to be debated. An instrument cannot be debated without this motion being tabled.
Members in both Houses can table motions in order to object to an instrument. In the Commons motions can be tabled against both the negative procedures. In the Lords moions can be tabled against all Statutory Instrument procedures. Motions can be fatal or non-fatal. If a fatal motion is debated and approved it will result in the Staturory Instrument either coming out of force (made instruments) or not being made (draft instruments).
Prayer motions tabled in the Commons can be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee by Government for consideration. The instrument will then be debated in a DLC and at the end the Committee will decide whether it agrees with the motion that it has considered the statutory instrument. Even if the Committee votes against the motion the statutory instrument can still proceed unaffected. This is because the motion is simply about whether the committee has considered the instrument. Questions on the main prayer motion can only take place in the Chamber.
Motions can be deferred in the House of Commons if the Speaker’s opinion is the decision of the Question has been challenged. Divisions will usually be deferred to the following Wednesday.
Many of the motions above will be debated and a question asked at the end of debate on whether the motion should be approved. We are unable to provide a query that shows motions and their outcomes, this is because a workpackage might have multiple motions tabled against it but only one motion might get debated and a question asked. At the moment we’re unable to show which motion the question applies to so the sparql query will cannot provide a true picture. For that reason the following queries show questions asked and their outcomes.
Questions on motion to approve the instrument (House of Commons)
Questions on motion to approve the instrument (House of Lords)
Motions can be withdrawn by Government or a Member at any point after tabling and before the question is asked. However, commonly approval motions will be withdrawn by Government at the same time they withdraw a draft instrument in its entirety. For prayer motions these will usually be withdrawn at the end of a debate.
Motions that are not moved are usually grouped together with other motions for debate. The first motion will be moved and debated, at the end of said debate the other motions may not be moved if the first motion has resolved the issue or the outcome of that motion has made the other motions redundant.
Any motions that have yet to have an outcome (agreed, disagreed or withdrawn) at the end of session will lapse. At the beginning of the new session the Government or Members can table motion again.