Better Regulation Task Force publishes 'critic's guide' to good regulation

Citation

(1998), "Better Regulation Task Force publishes 'critic's guide' to good regulation", European Business Review, Vol. 98 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr.1998.05498cab.002

Better Regulation Task Force publishes 'critic's guide' to good regulation

Better Regulation Task Force publishes "critic's guide" to good regulation

The Better Regulation Task Force recently published its first piece of work ­ a set of principles of good regulation. The task force plans to use the principles as a template for checking Government regulations.

Principles of Good Regulations highlights five key principles identified by the task force as necessary to ensure good and effective regulation:

(1) transparency (regulations are simple, clear, and easily understood);

(2) accountability (making the right people accountable, proper consultation, fair and efficient appeals procedure);

(3) targeting (hitting the spot, not unintended side effects);

(4) consistency (national laws applied evenly and predictably);

(5) proportionality (linking risk and protection to the cost and burden).

The leaflet contains a checklist which the task force believes should be used to measure the effectiveness of regulation, as well as examples of pitfalls to be avoided by regulators. It also suggests alternatives to statutory regulation, including self-regulation, dissemination of information, economic incentives, and codes of practice.

Launching the new guide, Christopher Haskins, chair of the Better Regulation Task Force, said: "This is the first work the task force has published. Everybody knows we have regulations that are outdated, poorly targeted and ineffective. Government needs to act to modernise the statute book for the twenty-first century. We are giving them today a 'critic's guide' to judge the quality of their regulations over the next few years. We are publishing the template so that others can see what we are looking for. I hope that legislators will use it to check their own work".

Mr Haskins explained the task force's message to regulators: "Regulations must have broad public support; they must be enforceable; they must be comprehensible, balanced, relevant and accountable; don't fall for knee-jerk reaction when things go wrong ­ take your time to think about it".

The task force is applying the principles to the four issues it is currently examining ­ employment law, consumer affairs, charities and the voluntary sector, and social services. It is also looking closely at the way in which regulations are enforced.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and cabinet minister responsible for better regulation, Dr David Clark, who appointed the task force in September 1997, said: "I welcome the principles of good regulation as an important contribution to the debate on when and how to regulate. This is an excellent start to the task force's work ­ establishing the principles it will use to judge the state of government regulation.

"The principles are also a useful input to the debate on better regulation which is taking place in advance of the White Paper on better government that I will be publishing in the spring. In taking forward work to deliver a fair and effective regulatory regime for all, the Government will give full consideration to the principles."