Impact assessments and better regulation: the role of the UK's Regulatory Policy Committee

Abstract

Impact assessment is a method of regulatory oversight intended to improve both regulatory processes and outcomes. This article reviews the work of the Regulatory Policy Committee established in 2009 to improve regulatory scrutiny in the UK, including its role in the coalition government's policy of ‘one in, one out’. The new oversight body has improved regulation but weaknesses remain. The UK has been a leading country in the use of impact assessment and the lessons from the work of the committee will be relevant to both those studying UK public administration and those developing better regulation programmes internationally.

Keywords:

• Impact
• oversight
• regulatory
• regulation
• UK

Acknowledgement

This discussion of the work of the RPC is made in a private capacity and should not be considered to represent the views of the RPC or any other of its members.

Notes

* The BRTF built on the work of the Deregulation Task Force created in 1984, but now with the emphasis firmly on ‘better regulation’ rather than ‘deregulation’. Similarly a Better Regulation Unit replaced the Deregulation Unit, which was later renamed the RIU. The Better Regulation Guide published in August 1998 introduced RIAs.

* Regulatory budgets would generally be set at a departmental level covering all the costs of all new regulation with an impact on business (BRE, 2008).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Gibbons

Michael Gibbons is chairman of the Regulatory Policy Committee. Formerly a director at Powergen, he is a member of the European Commission's High Level Advisory Group on Administrative Burdens.

David Parker

David Parker is emeritus professor Cranfield University, UK, and a member of the Regulatory Policy Committee.