Thursday 10:18
The Government has signalled its continuing commitment to considering alternatives to regulation by accepting all the recommendations made in the Better Regulation Task Force's report, 'Imaginative Thinking for Better Regulation' , in their response published today.
An Action Plan to implement the recommendations has been put in place to:
* improve awareness of alternatives to 'classic' regulation in departments; * assess the use of alternatives to regulation and possible unintended consequences; * provide regular Departmental reports of deregulatory activity and publish successful deregulation initiatives to share best practice across government; and * encourage greater use of alternatives to legislation in Europe.
Minister for the Cabinet Office, Douglas Alexander, welcomed the report's findings and said:
'The Task Force has provided a valuable platform on which to base a broad discussion on the use of alternatives to regulation both across government, and with our wider stakeholders.
'As the Task Force acknowledges, there are circumstances where regulations are needed, for example to protect the public on safety issues, but alternative measures should be given proper consideration before new regulations are introduced. I welcome the appointment of a senior civil servant in each department, acting as a 'champion' for the better regulation agenda. Part of their role will be to help ensure that alternatives to regulation are considered in Regulatory Impact Assessments and wider policy discussions. Both this and the annual publication of departmental regulatory performance will ensure even greater accountability and transparency in the Government's handling of regulatory issues.'
The Task Force recommendations, accepted by the Government, will mean:
* departments publishing examples of better regulation initiatives, including the use of alternatives to regulation and effective consultation;
* encouraging the greater use of alternatives to legislation in Europe; influencing thinking about the way in which the EU is proposing to deliver policy - including whether or not it has identified a range of policy solutions and justified its decision to discard non-regulatory options where legislation is the chosen route;
* departments reporting annually on their regulatory performance including the requirements of the new consultation code, their use of alternatives to 'classic' regulation, the regulatory reviews they have undertaken, and what regulations they have removed or 'sunset';
* induction training for civil servants to include the better regulation agenda and 'toolkit';
* the Cabinet Office assessing departments' use of alternatives to regulation and possible unintended consequences of regulatory interventions;
* the appointment of board level 'champions' at the top of departments to promote the better regulation agenda across Whitehall, challenge new regulatory proposals, and promote best practice; and
* departments reporting on their performance in meeting the Regulatory Reform Action Plan commitments, delivering Regulatory Reform Orders and full compliance with the Regulatory Impact Assessment process.
Notes to Editors
Copies of the Government's response to 'Imaginative Thinking for Better Regulation can be obtained from the RIU's web site: http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation
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