Principles of effective regulation
Public Accounts Committee
Closed
Inquiry
Government and Parliament use regulation – written rules about the way a policy should be delivered - to deliver public policy objectives across many areas, particularly where government does not provide or commission services directly. Well written, effective regulation supports more efficient and effective policy delivery - including reduced costs …
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6
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
1
Oral session
4
Letters
1
Event
Activity timeline 7 events
8 Nov
2021
2021
25 Oct
2021
2021
15 Sep
2021
2021
Report published
13 Jul
2021
2021
29 Jun
2021
2021
28 Jun
2021
2021
14 Jun
2021
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
14 Jun 2021
View on parliament.uk
Principles of effective regulation
Chris Carr · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Dame Melanie Dawes · Ofcom
Jaee Samant · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Sarah Albon · Health and Safety Executive
Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Sir James Bevan · Environment Agency
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixteenth Report - Principles of effective regulation | HC 176 | 15 Sep 2021 | 18 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
12 results
5
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
Outcomes-based regulation comes with benefits, but also presents challenges for regulators in measuring their influence...
Outcomes-based regulation comes with benefits, but also presents challenges for regulators in measuring their influence and compliance by industry. In general, setting goals and facilitating business to meet them can be both a more effective and a less burdensome approach …
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Government Response
The government's response is completely irrelevant to the committee's recommendation regarding outcomes-based regulation and data collection, instead discussing the BBC's audience decline.
HM Treasury
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1
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
On the basis of a report by the National Audit Office, we took evidence from...
On the basis of a report by the National Audit Office, we took evidence from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (the Department), and from the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Office of …
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Government Response
The government's response is an introductory statement that acknowledges the committee's process of taking evidence and publishing its report, serving as an introduction to the government's full response.
HM Treasury
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7
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
The Government’s 2019 White Paper ‘Regulation for the 4th Industrial Revolution’ found that only 29%...
The Government’s 2019 White Paper ‘Regulation for the 4th Industrial Revolution’ found that only 29% of businesses believed that “government’s approach to regulation facilitates innovative products and services being efficiently brought to market”.9 The Department explained that enabling innovation and …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about requiring regulators to adopt innovation-friendly approaches like sandboxes, but does not directly engage with this conclusion expressing surprise that sandboxes are not a default model.
HM Treasury
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8
Conclusion
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
The Department told us that the UK is ranked highly in terms of regulatory policy...
The Department told us that the UK is ranked highly in terms of regulatory policy and competitiveness by international bodies such as the OECD, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum (WEF). We heard that the Department seeks to …
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HM Treasury
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9
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
Rapid technological development is altering traditional business and commerce, the climate emergency is driving changes...
Rapid technological development is altering traditional business and commerce, the climate emergency is driving changes in business and consumer behaviour, and changing social attitudes are shifting citizens’ expectations of regulators. The UK’s exit from the EU has also created both …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about ensuring regulatory frameworks are responsive to major changes and post-EU departure opportunities, outlining principles from a consultation, but does not directly engage with this conclusion detailing the drivers of change.
HM Treasury
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10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
Ofcom, the Environment Agency and the HSE all stated that mitigating the risks and maximising...
Ofcom, the Environment Agency and the HSE all stated that mitigating the risks and maximising the opportunities of change in their sectors as a key challenge for them as regulators. For Ofcom, new technology has disrupted traditional business models and …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about regulatory frameworks adapting to post-EU changes, outlining principles from a consultation, but does not specifically engage with this conclusion detailing challenges faced by individual regulators.
HM Treasury
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11
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
To meet these challenges and opportunities, regulators need to recruit and retain the right staff,...
To meet these challenges and opportunities, regulators need to recruit and retain the right staff, collaborate effectively both domestically and internationally, and exploit new technology to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Ofcom has recruited a new chief technology officer from …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about regulatory frameworks adapting to post-EU changes, outlining principles from a consultation, but does not specifically engage with this conclusion regarding regulator staffing, collaboration, and technology use.
HM Treasury
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12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
The Department views its role as supporting coordination and dissemination of best practice across the...
The Department views its role as supporting coordination and dissemination of best practice across the regulatory system. However, it told us it is the responsibility of individual sponsoring departments to provide appropriate governance of regulatory bodies, including oversight of value …
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Government Response
The government's response mentions agreeing to an unprovided recommendation, discussing learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and future regulatory reform consultations, but does not directly address this conclusion about the Department's view of its role in regulatory oversight.
HM Treasury
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13
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
Robust performance measurement and evaluation, including analysis of the costs and benefits of regulatory activity,...
Robust performance measurement and evaluation, including analysis of the costs and benefits of regulatory activity, are essential for effective regulation. They can help evidence value for money, provide insight into unintended outcomes, and help to refine interventions to improve outcomes. …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about the Business Impact Target and regulatory cost/benefit analysis, but does not specifically engage with this conclusion regarding the importance of robust performance measurement and evaluation.
HM Treasury
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14
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
We questioned Ofcom, the Environment Agency and the HSE on the extent to which they...
We questioned Ofcom, the Environment Agency and the HSE on the extent to which they are able to capture the cost of their regulations on their sectors. Ofcom told us it is stepping up its efforts to measure its impact …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about the Business Impact Target and regulatory cost/benefit analysis, but does not specifically engage with this conclusion regarding regulator difficulties in capturing costs and benefits.
HM Treasury
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15
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
The government’s Business Impact Target is set each Parliament and aims to reduce the costs...
The government’s Business Impact Target is set each Parliament and aims to reduce the costs of regulation to business. Regulators must carry out Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) on qualifying regulations to determine their impacts on business. Where these assessments identify …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses a related recommendation about the Business Impact Target and regulatory cost/benefit analysis, but does not specifically engage with the conclusion provided in this item describing the existing BIT and RIA process.
HM Treasury
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18
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Sixteenth Report - Principles of e…
An outcomes-focused approach, however, can present a challenge for regulators and policymakers in measuring the...
An outcomes-focused approach, however, can present a challenge for regulators and policymakers in measuring the influence or impact of regulation and the level of compliance by industry. A regulator’s influence over the industry it regulates—for example, how well businesses comply …
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Government Response
The government provides a generic response about balancing regulatory approaches and referring to an ongoing consultation, but does not specifically address the imperative for regulators to robustly identify, collect, and act on data.
HM Treasury
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Correspondence 4 letters
25 Oct 2021
Correspondence Catherine Little, Director General, Public Spending Head of Government Finance Function, re Efficiency in Government, dated 28 September 2021
Parliament page
13 Jul 2021
Correspondence from Sarah Albon,Chief Executive, Health and Safety Executive, re FURTHER INFORMATION following the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) evidence session (Monday 14 June 2021) on the principles of effective regulation, dated 6 July 2021
Parliament page
29 Jun 2021
From committee
Correspondence from Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive’s Office, Environment Agency, re follow up letter to Monday 14 June meeting, dated 21 June 2021
Parliament page
28 Jun 2021
Correspondence from Jaee Samant, Director General Market Frameworks, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Principles of Effective Regulation 14 June, dated 22 June 2021
Parliament page