Scrutiny

Introduction

The Scrutiny Team works with individual policy makers and teams to improve the quality of evidence supporting proposed regulation and encouraging robust appraisal.  The team works closely with other Cabinet Office Units, other departments, regulators and the regulated, focusing on those regulations which impact on business, charities, and the voluntary sector. 

The Scrutiny Team consists of staff with a wide range of experience of policy development and implementation from across a number of Government Departments.  

The Team’s aims are to:

1. seek the removal of outdated and the improvement of unduly burdensome existing regulations;
2. help ensure future Government laws and regulations meet the Principles of Good Regulation:
   
   • Transparent – clearly define objectives and obligations;
     
   • Accountable – regulators are accountable to parliament and appeals procedures are accessible;
     
   • Consistent – with existing UK and EU regulations;
     
   • Targeted – focus on the problem; and
     
   • Proportionate to risk – balance risks and costs.
     
3. Help spread best practice on better policy-making and regulation with the Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment

Each Government Department has a Departmental Regulatory Impact Unit (DRIU), which acts as the first point of contact within Departments on regulatory issues. The Scrutiny Team work closely with DRIUs and Departmental officials to ensure Departments:

1. prepare robust Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) to assess the impact of proposals that are likely to have an effect on business, charities and the voluntary sector which consider all available options including non-regulatory alternatives;
   
2. include a Regulatory Impact Statement, agreed with RIU, in any Ministerial correspondence seeking collective agreement for "significant" proposals;
   
3. provide early and effective consultation with those affected; and
   
4. actively manage the efficient and fair transposition of EC regulatory law to our own statute book.