Details were published as part of the Government’s response to the Transforming Regulatory Enforcement consultation setting out how the Government will have a more mature and open relationship with businesses when it comes to regulatory enforcement, along with plans for a more transparent and light-touch system and the creation of a Better Regulation Delivery Office.
Vince Cable said: “Business has said clearly that regulatory enforcement is too often heavy-handed, inefficient and risk-averse – all of which drains productive businesses of time and resources. They also cited examples of good practice that we need to capture and build on. That’s why we’re introducing a review of all regulators.
“We will also move to a transparent and light-touch system based on real risks, including extending the successful Primary Authority scheme and bringing the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) into government as a new Better Regulation Delivery Office.
“We will end the tick-box approach to inspection, including establishing sunset review clauses on most new statutory regulators created in the future.”
Minister for Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk said: “We have made good progress against excessive regulation already by reducing the impact of red tape on businesses through the radical system of One-in, One-out, the three-year micro-business moratorium and the Red Tape Challenge.
“Now is the time to broaden the scope of the deregulatory campaign by putting in place a comprehensive review of UK regulatory bodies. Our aim is ambitious – to fundamentally change not just regulations, but also how they’re enforced.”
During the summer the Government consulted with businesses to gather their views on where reform of enforcement was needed and where current approaches to enforcing regulation could be lightened or made to work in more constructive ways.
The Government will also introduce changes to the Primary Authority scheme to improve the coherence, accountability and transparency of local regulation. This will involve strengthening inspection plans to deliver earned recognition for business; allowing more organisations to participate, benefiting small business; and including specific policy areas which are currently out of scope: under-age sales of knives, gambling, and fire safety.
The Government will also introduce sunset review clauses on most new statutory regulators created in the future. It will also retain the Regulator’s Compliance Code, giving it a higher profile, making sure it is understood by customers and placing it at the heart of reviews of regulators. And government departments will have to consider carefully the costs of enforcement for business and the taxpayer.
The LBRO will be reconstituted as the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, operating alongside the Better Regulation Executive to deliver a coherent programme of regulatory reform, and providing comprehensive advice and support to UK and Welsh Ministers.
This comprehensive package of measures will transform the culture of enforcement so that businesses will see a real difference, becoming more like customers rather than simply on the receiving end, of the regulatory enforcement system.
