Better Regulation
What is Better Regulation?
Good regulation doesn't only minimise burdens but also is effective in delivering benefits for individuals, businesses and society. Effective regulation brings benefits – like the extra trade and reduced prices that competitive markets create, cleaner air and water, reduced carbon emissions, safer and healthier workplaces and food.
The Department for Work and Pensions is firmly committed to the principles of good regulation and to good quality policy-making to achieve proportionate, consistent, transparent and targeted regulation that achieves its policy objective without imposing unnecessary burdens on business, the third sector or the public sector.
Statement of New Regulation
The following document summarises DWP regulation which impacts on business and civil society organisations, and which is proposed for implementation up to 31 December 2011.
2012 statements
The following document summarises DWP and HSE regulation which impacts on business and civil society organisations, and which will be implemented by 30 June 2012.
The Government’s third Statement of New Regulation reporting on application of the One-in, One-out policy up to 30 June 2012 can be accessed here:
The following document summarises DWP and HSE regulation which impacts on business and civil society organisations, and which will be implemented between 1 July and 31 December 2012.
The Government’s fourth Statement of New Regulation reporting on the application of the One-in, One-out policy between 1 July and 31 December 2012 can be accessed here:
- Fourth Statement of New Regulation (GOV.UK)
The following document summarises DWP and HSE regulation which impacts on business and civil society organisations, and which will be implemented between 1 January and 30 June 2013.
The Government’s fifth Statement of New Regulation reporting on the application of the One-in, Two-out policy between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2013 can be accessed here:
- Fifth Statement of New Regulation (GOV.UK)
Administrative burdens – cutting red tape
We measured the administrative burden that DWP’s regulation places on business, and set a target to reduce this by 25 per cent by 2010. We more than achieved this by October 2008, bringing the cumulative total of burden reductions to £187 million a year.
- DWP Administrative Burdens Measurement Exercise (486KB)
- Technical summary of the Administrative Burdens Measurement Exercise (93KB) produced for DWP by the Better Regulation Executive.
Simplification
Measures to reduce administrative burdens, and other simplifications, are set out in our simplification plans:
- 2009 Simplification Plan (388KB)
- 2008 Simplification Plan (477KB)
- 2007 Simplification Plan (182KB)
- 2006 Simplification Plan (404KB)
We are keen to hear from our stakeholders with suggestions for how we can simplify our existing regulation. The Better Regulation Executive in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has a website where you can contribute your ideas on how regulation could be simplified.
- Better Regulation Executive (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website)
Impact Assessments
Impact assessments are important for delivering good quality regulation. These assessments are informed by consultation with our stakeholders.
Common commencement dates
Regulation which impacts on business has common commencement dates when legislation takes effect. There are two dates each year, 6 April and 1 October. It is however sometimes necessary to introduce legislation slightly earlier than 6 April to tie-in with the start of the Pension Protection Fund’s accounting year (1 April).
Common commencement dates are intended to help business and stakeholders to plan and budget for new regulatory measures.
