Emergency legislation covers a wide range of circumstances where exceptional powers are required. In legislative terms Bills may be expedited, including last minute amendments, with little time for full debate and scrutiny. Parliament is weakened by its inability to subject emergency legislation to full scrutiny and the executive retains the initiative. This memorandum is focused on techniques that may allow emergency powers to be subject to greater scrutiny than currently is possible. A balance must be struck between the need for adequate scrutiny and the requirement for emergency powers to be operative as quickly as possible in the public interest.

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/ConstProfessorsDavidMiers&JohnMcEldowney.pdf