| Title
of proposal/proposed regulation |
Full title including
any document reference e.g. that of the EC Directive
|
|
Purpose and intended effect of measure |
Objective
State clearly what the proposal intends to do and who it will
effect (both directly and indirectly).
Background
What is the problem, the existing situation and the current
legislative framework in place?
Risk assessment
Identify the situation that causes harm, what that harm is
and the probability that it will occur. If the proposal concerns
an increase in efficiency or realisation of benefits, you
should describe and quantify the current situation. This will
allow you to work out the costs and benefits of the different
options in later sections. You should also consider who the
risks affect, particularly disadvantaged groups or disproportionate
impacts on any group.
|
| Options |
| Identify all the options and the potential of each to achieve
the objective. The ‘do nothing’ option should be
included, not only because the implications of not acting should
be clear but also because as it acts as a baseline for the other
options. You should be careful to flag up any risks associated
with each option, the likelihood of these risks occurring and
ways that these risks could be mitigated. You should also assess
the impacts the options may have on any particular group. |
| Costs
and benefits |
Business
sectors affected
List the sectors likely to be most affected by the proposal.
State the number, and size distribution, of the firms in each
sector.
Assumptions
All underlying assumptions must be clearly spelled out. Test
the validity of the most important or speculative assumptions
used. How likely are they to change? How would any changes
in assumptions affect the levels of costs and benefits?
Benefits
Examine each of the options in turn how far they will get
in achieving the policy goal and how this will be done. The
benefits should be quantified as far as possible. Remember
to consider environmental and social benefits, and distributional
impacts.
Costs
Total costs
Describe what firms will need to do to comply. Quantify these
activities/changes and calculate how much they will cost on
a per annum basis. Where there is uncertainty use estimates
and ranges. The analysis should reflect the split between
policy and implementation costs, and should
take account of environmental and social costs, public sector
and distributional impacts.
Costs for a typical business
Identify a typical business(es), explain the type of activities
that they will have to undertake, quantify those activities
and calculate the cost.
|
| Equity
and fairness |
For each option
identify key groups that could be disproportionately affected.
|
| Small
Firms’ Impact Test |
Consider the impacts
of each option on small firms and record the details of both
stages of the impact test. Remember to speak to the Small
Business Service.
|
|
Competition assessment |
Provide an assessment
of the competition impacts for each option (talk to the OFT).
|
| Enforcement
and sanctions |
How will the proposal
be enforced? Who will enforce it?
|
| Consultation |
Within
Government
List the Government agencies and Departments that have been
consulted
Public Consultation
Record the consultation’s results and the impact on
the decision being taken.
|
| Monitoring
and review |
How is the effectiveness
of the legislation to be measured and when? Major new regulations
will have to be reviewed within 3 years of coming into force.
|
|
Summary and recommendation |
Which option is
recommended and why? Refer to analysis of the costs and benefits
in reaching the decision. Summarise in a table the information
gathered for each option.
|
| Ministerial
declaration |
"I have read
regulatory impact assessment and I am satisfied that the benefits
justify the costs."
|
| Contact
point |
Insert name, address
and phone number of an official who can answer any queries
on the assessment or proposed legislation. Include the date.
|
Alternative
to Regulation
