UK approach to independent scrutiny to achieve better - PowerPoint Presentation

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UK approach to independent scrutiny to achieve better regulation 30/05/16Slide2

What we doIndependent advisory body set up to providing external, real time scrutiny on the quality of evidence and analysis supporting regulatory changes affecting business and civil societyBy giving ministers opinions in advance, helps

ensure

decisions

on legislative proposals are based on a robust evidence baseProvides businesses and the public with confidence that the government’s claims on regulatory reform are credible, for example £10bn statutory deregulation targetCommittee comments only on quality of evidence not on policy

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Who we areCommittee members made up of 8 representatives of business, civil society, legal profession, academia, including 2 professional economists

appointed by open public process

independent of government

work on a part-time but continual basisSupported by secretariat of 15 civil service policy advisers and economistsMeet monthly

Opinions determined by email exchange

Michael Gibbons C

BE, Chair

Sarah Veale CBE

Alexander Ehmann

Martin

Traynor OBE

Ken Warwick

Nicole

Kar

Jonathan

Cave

Jeremy Mayhew

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Our evolution

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INDEPENDENCEKey to our success is independent scrutiny which provides:

stronger challenge to policy

makers

a driver for culture change and improved impact assessmentscounter to bias towards regulation, optimism

enhanced credibility of government’s regulatory frameworkexternal expertiseincreased transparencySlide6

Scope of our work

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All changes in primary and secondary legislation

affecting business and civil society, except tax, spending, fees/charges, and public procurement

Activities of independent regulatorsThree main responsibilities:scrutinise evidence base for new regulatory burdens on business, including rationale, alternatives, and small business impacts;

v

erify impacts of all regulatory proposals, both those qualifying for business impact target and those not;

c

onfirm split between qualifying and non-qualifying proposals.

Summary of proposals scrutinised by RPC in last parliamentSlide7

Impact AssessmentsA continuous process to help: Think through the objectives for government interventionWeigh up various options Understand the consequences of each option

A

tool

that presents the costs, benefits and risks of a proposal7 recommendations:Don’t presume regulation is the answerTake time and effort to consider all options

Have substantive evidenceProduce reliable estimates of the costs and benefitsAssess non-monetary impacts thoroughlyExplain and present results clearlyUnderstand the real cost to business of regulationSources of Advice:Better Regulation Framework ManualTreasury ‘Green Book’

What the UK considers:

Administrative costs

Policy costs

Benefits

Only costs incurred by business

Impact Assessments should set out wider costs and benefits (but these are not scored)Slide8

Actal & RPCScrutinises every new proposal including of EU origin;Encourages use of alternatives;Does not review the stock of regulation;Considers the impacts on all businesses, voluntary and community bodies;

Has clear process of post implementation review

;

Special test for impact on all small and micro businesses. #CutRedTape (stock)

Selects the items on which it issues advice;Encourages use of alternatives;Reviews the stock of regulation;Focus on the business community, by citizens, and by professionals in the healthcare, education, security and social security sectorsSlide9

Impact of the work of the RPC

During the last Parliament (2010-2015), the RPC has:Slide10

Key achievements - Quality of impact assessments improved in last parliament…

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Key achievements - credibility with business groups and civil society organisations

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www.gov.uk/rpc

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Thank you for listeningQUESTIONS?