Better regulation
Encyclopedia
The Better Regulation Commission is as non-departmental public body
of the British government, independent of any government department but under the oversight of Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
. Its role, according to its Terms of Reference is "To advise the Government on action to reduce unnecessary regulatory and administrative burdens, and ensure that regulation and its enforcement are proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent and targeted".
"Better regulation" has been a theme of government action in the United Kingdom
since the establishment of an advisory Better Regulation Task Force in 1997. The task force was replaced by a permanent body, the Better Regulation Commission, on 1 January 2006 and the Government says it is committed to implementing its recommendations.
The task force has estimated the total cost of regulation to the UK economy at 10-12% of GDP, or £100 billion, taking into account the related policy work.
The framework for action in the UK now includes principles, regulatory impact assessments, simplification plans, and post-implementation reviews.
Proportionality: Regulators should intervene only when necessary. Remedies should be appropriate to the risk posed, and costs identified and minimised.
Accountability: Regulators should be able to justify decisions and be subject to public scrutiny.
Consistency: Government rules and standards must be joined up and implemented fairly.
Transparency: Regulators should be open, and keep regulations simple and user-friendly.
Targeting: Regulation should be focused on the problem and minimise side effects.
New legislation, a Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
, has been introduced in 2006 to establish statutory principles of good regulation based on the work of the task force. The law will oblige regulatory bodies to have regard to the principles and a code of practice.
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
of the British government, independent of any government department but under the oversight of Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform was a United Kingdom government department. The department was created on 28 June 2007 on the disbanding of the Department of Trade and Industry , and was itself disbanded on 6 June 2009 on the creation of the Department for Business,...
. Its role, according to its Terms of Reference is "To advise the Government on action to reduce unnecessary regulatory and administrative burdens, and ensure that regulation and its enforcement are proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent and targeted".
"Better regulation" has been a theme of government action in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
since the establishment of an advisory Better Regulation Task Force in 1997. The task force was replaced by a permanent body, the Better Regulation Commission, on 1 January 2006 and the Government says it is committed to implementing its recommendations.
The task force has estimated the total cost of regulation to the UK economy at 10-12% of GDP, or £100 billion, taking into account the related policy work.
The framework for action in the UK now includes principles, regulatory impact assessments, simplification plans, and post-implementation reviews.
The UK principles of better regulation
Five principles were identified by the Better Regulation Task Force in 1997 as the basic tests of whether any regulation is fit for purpose.Proportionality: Regulators should intervene only when necessary. Remedies should be appropriate to the risk posed, and costs identified and minimised.
Accountability: Regulators should be able to justify decisions and be subject to public scrutiny.
Consistency: Government rules and standards must be joined up and implemented fairly.
Transparency: Regulators should be open, and keep regulations simple and user-friendly.
Targeting: Regulation should be focused on the problem and minimise side effects.
New legislation, a Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was enacted to replace the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 .-The Bill for this Act:...
, has been introduced in 2006 to establish statutory principles of good regulation based on the work of the task force. The law will oblige regulatory bodies to have regard to the principles and a code of practice.