Reducing administrative burdens
A key part of simplifying regulation in the UK is measuring and reducing administrative burdens. The standard cost model (SCM), now being used across Europe, is helping departments do this.
What is an administrative burden?
An administrative burden refers to anything that businesses must do to comply with regulations, which they wouldn’t otherwise do. Typically, this involves things like form filling, keeping records or responding to information requests.
Simplifying administrative activities should deliver substantial savings for business and the UK economy.
Using the standard cost model
The SCM methodology, developed in Holland, measures administrative activities that organisations must carry out to comply with a particular regulation. It focuses on the administrative cost imposed by a regulation, not on its policy objectives.
The model is used by a number of countries within the European Union, to provide consistency. These countries form the SCM Network.
Read more in the European regulation section on this site, or by visiting the Standard Cost Model Network website.
Adapting the model for the UK
The SCM model was adapted for the UK and used to measure administrative burdens imposed by each area of government. These results were used to help departments and agencies develop their simplification plans. All future regulatory proposals will be costed using the SCM.
You can download the manual for the UK version of the model below. This sets out how to use it when costing proposals.
Routes to reduction
The guidance below has been developed for government policy officials who are developing new policy, as well as anyone drafting their own departmental simplification plan.
It provides examples of some approaches taken by departments to provide inspiration for creative and strategic approaches to reducing administrative burdens.
The full guidance is available from the following link:
Administrative burdens: routes to reduction (PDF, 516KB)
