S.I. 2008/50: memorandum from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Manchester College (Government) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/50)

1. The committee has asked for a memorandum on the following point-

What is the explanation for the breach of the 21 day rule? (See Statutory Instrument Practice, paragraphs 4.13.1 and 4.13.3).

2. The Department wishes to thank the committee for drawing this matter to its attention, and to apologise unreservedly to the committee for an administrative error which has led to this request.

3. As the committee will see from the attached signature copy of the instrument the Minister signed the correct version of the instrument, which states the correct coming into force date of the instrument as 15^th February. Unfortunately, due to an administrative error, a different version of the instrument, with a coming into force date of 1^st February, was submitted to HMSO and OPSI for registration and laying.

4. In order to rectify this error, the Department has discussed the matter with HMSO and in consequence has written to HMSO requesting that a correction slip be issued to rectify this error. When checking the instrument, a further error has also come to light, namely the date of the Regulations and the coming into force date are wrong in Regulation 1 of the printed version of the instrument (they should read 2008 and 15^th February respectively), although they are correct in the signature version. The Department has therefore asked that the correction slip should further deal with these matters.

5. The Department hopes that the committee will be satisfied that this action will address the unintentional breach of the 21 day rule and apologises once again for the administrative error which led to this.

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

8 February 2008