New measures to strengthen regulatory management

28th March 2010

The Government's updated Forward Programme, setting out all business regulation planned for introduction over the next 12 months, was published today.

The Forward Programme was designed to create more openness and clarity in the regulatory process and enable decisions on new regulations to be taken in the context of the cumulative burden of the Government's regulatory programme on business and the wider economy. It builds on the cross-Government drive to cut the costs of regulation, which has delivered around £3 billion in annual savings to date.

The new edition of the Forward Programme, the second to be published, follows on from the measures announced as part of the Budget, that will improve the understanding of, and control over, the flow of new regulation, including:

* setting out, from the next Parliament, a Draft Forward Programme of the measures affecting business that the Government intends to consult on over the following 12 months;

* putting more emphasis on seeking alternatives by ensuring that regulations are only introduced once alternatives and the "do nothing" option has been considered as part of the public consultation process;

* examining the case for a benefit-cost ratio threshold and an affordability analysis when introducing new proposals;

* publishing, for the first time, assessments of government departments' performance against better regulation principles, to help strengthen their work, improve future delivery and increase business confidence; and

* setting out the ambition for how the costs of regulation can be reduced by a further £6.5 billion, including up to £1.5 billion reduction in the costs of employing staff; up to £1.25 billion less to comply with building, planning and housing regulations, and up to £500 million less to comply with health and safety law.

Ian Lucas, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform, said: "Making life simpler for businesses means making the way Government regulates more straightforward and easier to understand and control.

"The updated Forward Programme confirms our commitment to increasing transparency and certainty, and will help businesses better prepare for changes in regulation. It sets out the Government's major policy priorities, including new measures to tackle climate change and building and sustaining the economic recovery."

Sir Don Curry, Non-Executive Chair of the Better Regulation Executive, said: "Delivering better regulation across the whole of Government is key to helping create the best environment for businesses to start up, invest and grow.

"The next steps on the better regulation agenda, set out in the Budget, will strengthen the management of regulation further. There will be a new annual programme of policy consultations, provision for a fuller public debate on alternatives to regulation and a new assessment of how Government departments are performing against the better regulation agenda.

"Along with the publication of the latest Forward Programme, great progress is being made to increase transparency and accountability across Government, which is helping to improve business and public confidence in the way Government regulates."

The latest edition of the Forward Programme, details the impact of planned regulation to the economy, and shows that around £11.6 billion in benefits, and £9.9 billion in costs, will be delivered over the next year as the Government delivers on some of its top priorities, including new measures to tackle climate change and build on the economic recovery. It also provides information on 43 measures that will make life simpler for businesses and deliver more than £300 million in annual savings.

The second edition of the Forward Programme sets out all of the new regulations which are planned to come into force from April 2010 up to the end of April 2011, following on from its original publication in October 2009. The pdf and excel versions of the Forward Programme, can be found at www.bis.gov.uk/bre.

The Forward Programme also contains details of planned regulations, with Average Annual Costs or Benefits exceeding £50 million, that are expected to be implemented beyond April 2011. For the period April 2010 - 2011 it sets out a total of 308 new measures, of which 43 are simplifications, with totals costs of £9.9 billion and total benefits of £11.6 billion

The measures announced as part of the Budget are currently being taken forward. The new Forward Programme of consultations is expected to be introduced in the next Parliament.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.