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.
Notes for editors
1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
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.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk