Consult the detailed scoring methodology.
Question | Answer | Note |
---|---|---|
Do ministries or regulatory agencies develop forward regulatory plans – that is, a public list of anticipated regulatory changes or proposals intended to be adopted/implemented within a specified time frame? | Yes, throughout government |
Usually, each Ministry of Government publishes its "Single Departmental Plan" which contains a section on its forward regulatory program.
|
Are these plans available to general public? | Yes |
It is published on the official website of the government (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/business-impact-target-annual-reports).
|
Do ministries or regulatory agencies publish the text or summary of proposed (not yet adopted) regulations before their enactment? | Yes, throughout government |
It is a widespread practice for UK government Ministries and agencies to publish proposed regulations as part of the overall consultation procedure. These are usually published as an annex to the consultation or within the document itself.
|
Where is the draft text or summary published? |
On a unified website where all proposed regulations are published; on the website of the relevant ministry or regulator; directly distributed to inter...
More
On a unified website where all proposed regulations are published; on the website of the relevant ministry or regulator; directly distributed to interested stakeholders. |
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/browse
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/ Normally via e-mail notifications or other informal communication channels. |
Do ministries or regulatory agencies have the legal obligation to publish the text of proposed regulations before their enactment? | No |
Even though there is no legal requirement, publishing proposed regulations is always the expectation, especially during UK consultation procedures. Parliament also has a strong expectation that public consultations are held before the drafts are presented to them.
|
Is the entire text of the proposed draft published? | Yes, throughout government | |
Is there a period of time set by law for the text of the proposed regulations to be publicly available? | No |
Question | Answer | Note |
---|---|---|
Do ministries or regulatory agencies solicit comments on proposed (not yet adopted) regulations from the general public? | Yes, throughout government |
It is a standard practice for all government departments (Ministries) and agencies to seek the public's views on proposed regulations before they are finalized. This is often in the form of targeted questions within a consultation document that seeks views on various elements of the proposed regulations.
|
How are the comments received? |
On a unified website for all proposed regulations; on the website of the relevant ministry or regulator; through public meetings; through targeted out...
More
On a unified website for all proposed regulations; on the website of the relevant ministry or regulator; through public meetings; through targeted outreach to stakeholders, such as business associations or other groups; through email; through social media. |
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/ This would depend on the nature of the policy but it is a widespread practice for UK Government officials to engage with stakeholders via a range of different means at various stages of policy development including consultation. No centralized criteria but interested stakeholders would normally be classed as those who have a history of engaging in the policy. |
Are received comments publicly accessible? | Yes, throughout government |
When responding to a consultation, the Government will normally publish a Government response and summaries of the comments received.
|
Is the rulemaking body required by law to solicit these comments on proposed regulations? | No | |
Is there a specialized government body or department tasked with soliciting and receiving these comments? | No | |
Do ministries or regulatory agencies report on the results of the consultation on proposed regulations? | Yes, throughout government |
This is a standard feature of UK consultation practices and is done via the “government response” process. This involves UK Government departments (Ministries) or agencies publishing a document that responds to the issues raised by participants in the original consultation and sets out how the policy will be taken forward in light of the comments received. (section I of the UK consultation principles)
|
How does the government report on the results of the consultation? | Prepares one consolidated response. | |
Where does the government report on the results of the consultation? | On a unified website for all proposed regulations. |
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations
Where a regulation proposed is of a significance, it may also be publicized through press notices or announced in the national Parliament. |
Is reporting on the results of the consultation required by law? | No |
Question | Answer | Note |
---|---|---|
Do ministries or regulatory agencies conduct an impact assessment of proposed (not yet adopted) regulations? | Yes, throughout government | |
Are there criteria used for determining which proposed regulations are subjected to an impact assessment? | Yes |
The criterion depends on the applicable law or statute. Currently, measures expected to have a gross annual net cost to business of more than £1M require a complete Impact Assessment study. However, the UK is actively looking at the effectiveness of this de-minimis.
|
Are there any specific regulatory impact assessment guidelines? | Yes | |
Are impact assessments required by law? | No |
It is an established administrative procedure that is, in most cases, required by the national Parliament for scrutiny and accountability purposes.
|
Are impact assessment made publicly available? | Yes | |
How is this assessment distributed? | Through a unified website for all proposed regulations; through targeted outreach to stakeholders, such as business associations or other groups. |
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?publication_filter_option=consultations
The Regulatory Impact Assessment may be distributed through the Government Gazette and/or circulated in the national Parliament. |
When is this assessment distributed? | Together with the draft proposed legislation and after the consultation period for the proposed legislation. | |
Is there an obligation for regulators to consider alternatives to proposed regulation? | Yes, throughout government |
The general rules of the UK's better regulation framework states that proposing a regulatory solution to a problem should always be the last resort, backed up with evidence of its likely costs and benefits. This requirement that brings national regulators within the scope of the Business Impact Target makes them accountable for their regulatory enforcement actions. Underpinning the rule is a Committee of UK Government Ministers who sits on the “Reducing Regulation Committee” (RRC). They oversee and clear government policy on better regulation at Ministerial level across government. RRC clearance is required for all regulatory measures where a cost to business is imposed or removed. This ensures that regulation is used as a last resort, and that new a regulation is clear, proportionate and comes at a minimum cost to businesses.
|
Is there a specialized government body tasked with reviewing and monitoring regulatory impact assessments conducted by other individual agencies or government bodies? | Yes | |
Please provide the name of this government body, and explain its functions. |
Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). Its primary role is to provide independent scrutiny on the quality of evidence and analysis in UK Impact Assessment...
More
Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). Its primary role is to provide independent scrutiny on the quality of evidence and analysis in UK Impact Assessments. Its key functions include: |