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How to object to a negative statutory instrument

Step-by-step:

You or your staff can complete these steps, but if your staff complete step 3 your handwritten signature is needed.

  1. Check the online Statutory Instrument Service to see whether the statutory instrument has been presented to Parliament (‘laid’) and whether there is still time to have it annulled or ask the Journal Office to check for you.
  2. Decide whether you want to ask other MPs to sign the prayer to show their support. You can then submit the prayer as an Early Day Motion. You can only table a prayer when the House is meeting. You can submit it at other times, but it won't be tabled and published until the House meets again. You can submit a prayer online or in hard copy.
  3. To submit the prayer online, go to the MemberHub (memberhub.parliament.uk): click 'submit', click 'Early Day Motion', click 'pray against negative statutory instrument you want to pray against.
  4. Or if you prefer to use a hard copy, contact the Journal Office for the wording of the prayer and take the prayer to the Table Office, or ask another MP to take it for you. Or sign the prayer and post it or ask your staff to take it to the Table Office (faxed, stamped or photocopied signatures can't be accepted).
  5. If you have an interest to declare, let the Table Office know.
  6. The Table Office will check your prayer and contact you if there’s a problem. Once the Table Office has approved your prayer, it has been tabled. The Government will then decide whether the House will be given the opportunity to debate the prayer, either in a Delegated Legislation Committee or (very rarely) in the Chamber.