Question
What action they will take to ensure that the parliamentary hybrid Bill procedure complies with European Union Directive 2003/35/EC.
Answer
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not planning to recommend changes to parliamentary hybrid Bill procedures. Standing Order 27A of Private Business, to which hybrid Bills are subject, already requires the deposit of an environmental statement in accordance with Schedule 4 to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, and we are satisfied that hybrid Bills will be handled so that they meet all the objectives of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC as amended by 97/11/EC and 2003/35/EC).