The Better Regulation Executive and government departments are not yet in a position to achieve value for money in their management of regulation. However, the Better Regulation Executive, created in 2005, and departments have developed important elements of a structured approach to achieving sustainable reductions in regulatory costs and have delivered significant benefits. Businesses generally recognise the purpose of regulation, but they believe that it can be unnecessarily burdensome, particularly on the smallest businesses. Businesses interviewed by the NAO typically have to consider as many as 60 regulations, governed by many different regulatory bodies. Businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, are not clear on how to comply fully with regulation. The NAO found that departments are not communicating effectively with businesses about regulation. Businesses find it difficult to keep up with the extent of new regulation and changes to legislation. The Coalition Government's programme included several commitments to regulatory reform. Departments are currently conducting evaluations of their existing regulations, but they have not been taking a systematic approach and no overall attempt has been made to review the total number of regulations that businesses face. Furthermore, there is as yet no detailed plan for achieving the new Government's regulatory reform objectives. Departments do not routinely evaluate the impact on business of regulation once it has come into effect. They are, therefore, not in a good position to make adjustments to improve regulation in light of experience.
This report examines the matter of accountability to the House of Commons of Lord Mandelson of Foy and Hartlepool, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. As a member of the House of Lords he is unable to answer questions in the House of Commons. The report compares the current situation with previous examples of Cabinet ministers being in the House of Lords. The Committee notes that the current situation differs from the past in that a significant proportion of the ministerial support team is based in the Lords or shared with other departments. It is unfortunate that the department for business is so thinly represented in the Commons. One solution would be to amend Standing Orders to allow Lord Mandelson to appear at the Despatch Box to answer questions in the Commons. There are precedents for this approach. Such a change might, though, encourage governments to appoint more members of the House of Lords as department heads, and the Committee feels that would be an unwelcome and significant constitutional change. The Procedure Committee should investigate a mechanism for parliamentary questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Brought from the Commons on 18 October 2012. Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, are published separately as HL Bill 45-EN (ISBN 9780108475122)
The Post Office Network Change Programme has largely met its targets and complied with the undertakings given by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. By March 2009, 2,383 post offices had been closed, 98 per cent of the final total of 2,435 now planned. The Programme has overseen a planned reduction in the total number of post office outlets to fewer than 12,000. At the same time, the Programme has put in place protections for consumers which set out maximum distances that people should have to travel to their nearest Post Office. The programme is forecast to be under-budget - at March 2009, the projected final costs for the programme were £161 million, down from the original estimate of £176 million. After completion of the programme, Post Office Ltd plans to deliver savings of £45 million a year. The ongoing benefits of the programme will exceed the one-off costs of the programme, notably the cost of compensating sub postmasters, from 2011-12 onwards. The programme of putting new Outreach services, such as mobile post offices, missed the target date for completion of late 2008, with 433 of the 500 planned services open by March 2009. Planned refurbishments to nearly 700 existing post offices have been completed in only 447. The post office network is being supported by a subsidy from the taxpayer of £150 million a year, reflecting the role Post Offices play in the local community. The Department evaluated the social and economic value of supporting the reduced network, but does not plan continued monitoring of the social or economic benefits.
This Interim report on digital Britain has been produced by a Steering Board for two Government departments, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Divided into six sections, it looks specifically at the following areas: digital networks; digital content; universal connectivity and equipping everyone to benefit from digital Britain, along with an introduction and conclusion. The conclusion sets out a number of goals that the Government would like to aspire to by 2012 and before publishing a final report. Those goals include: universal participation in the broadband world; highly capable and robust networks; a world leading position in the communications and creative industries and a high quality digital delivery of essential public services. In all there are 24 recommendations within this report, and the Government has set out five key measures, which are: achievement of universal connectivity; a set of digital networks (wired and wireless); a digital economy; compelling programmes and online content; public service transactions which form part of the Government's objectives in acheiving the goals. Organisations and individuals interested in joining the discussion about digital Britain should register at digitalbritain@berr.gsi.gov.uk.
This White Paper represents the ambition of Government to promote innovation across society as a tool to develop and generate economic prosperity and improve the quality of life throughout the UK. The policies include proposals about how Government can use procurement and regulation to promote innovation in business and make the public sector and public services more innovative. The White Paper is in 10 chapters: The role of government; demanding innovation; supporting business innovation; the need for a strong and innovative research base; international innovation; innovative people; public sector innovation; innovative places and the innovation nation: next steps. An Annex sets out the development of this White Paper. Published alongside the White Paper is 'Implementing "The Race to the Top": Lord Sainsbury's review of Government's science and innovation' (ISBN 9780108507175). Lord Sainsbury's review published in October 2007 (HM Treasury, ISBN 9781845323561, http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/5/E/sainsbury_review051007.pdf) and also relevant is the 2008 Enterprise Strategy (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/E/3/bud08_enterprise_524.pdf)
Sustaining a Higher Value-added Economy, Government Response to the Business and Enterprise Committee's Eleventh Report of Session 2008-09, First Special Report of Session 2009-10
Sustaining a Higher Value-added Economy, Government Response to the Business and Enterprise Committee's Eleventh Report of Session 2008-09, First Special Report of Session 2009-10
Government response to HCP 746-I, (ISBN 9780215540898). Formerly this committee was the Business and Enterprise Committee, renamed on 1 October 2009 to reflect the name changes of Departments Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and Innovation, Universities and Skills
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