Jack Cunningham calls for partnership with the business community as a new approach to regulation

Jack Cunningham, Minister for the Cabinet Office recently called for a partnership with the business community as a new approach to regulation. He suggested consideration of the following in oder to achieve this:

• a new, strengthened role for the Cabinet Office as broker in the Government’s regulatory programme - the department must be consulted on any policies imposing a significant regulatory burden;
• Better Regulation Unit to become the Regulatory Impact Unit (RIU) to reflect the radical step change in the initiative;
• a new role for the Better Regulation Task Force in spearheading the Government’s drive to remove unnecessary regulation;
• a “Forward Look” programme of regulatory proposals, including EU proposals, to be compiled by the RIU:
• Parliamentary time for a new Bill to increase the flexibility of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act will be sought;
• a stronger voice in Europe to ensure that the cumulative impact of EU legislation is fully taken into account by the Council of Ministers;
• more openness in the development of regulatory process including greater consultation with industry and commerce;
• RIU to take on secondees from industry and commerce; and
• a role for the new Centre for Management and Policy Studies in training the public sector to handle the cultural change to the regulatory process.

Dr Cunningham said:

“The task facing us, particularly if we are to promote business and tackle unemployment, is to establish a more responsive and open system of regulatory appraisal and delivery. Future developments and improvements will depend not only on the Government’s experience in practice but also on the views of all those affected by regulation. I welcome further discussion on our approach and look forward to hearing your views on bringing regulation closer to the people.”

Those of us who are familiar with the Deregulation initiative of the last Conservative Government will be interested to see this proposal. It will be interesting to see how the procedural hurdles which are raised by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act (before regulations reducing regulatory burdens on business can be made) are reduced and how this Government uses any new powers. The emphasis on greater consultation with business has been noticeable in the case of the proposals for an e-commerce Bill.