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2006 Better Regulation Simplification Plan

We welcome the opportunity this 2006 Simplification Plan presents to examine how to reduce the cost of regulation, without undermining the benefits it provides.  It builds on the draft Plan we published for consultation in November 2005.  It shows how and where we will deliver specific savings in administrative burdens (red tape costs imposed on business by regulation, such as form-filling, record-keeping, official returns and complying with inspections).  These burdens – estimated by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) last year through the cross-Government Administrative Burdens Measurement Exercise (see below) – are very broadly estimated to cost business just under £5.3bn per year.

Like other Departments, we aim to reduce these burdens by 25%.  Drawing extensively on advice and input from key business, employee and consumer bodies and our delivery partners, we have worked up proposals we estimate will deliver savings of around £700m – a first instalment towards our overall target of £1.3bn. To view the plan please click on the link below :

Associated documents:

DELIVERING DTI SIMPLIFICATION MEASURES 2005 - 2007

We have also produced a short (2 page) list with brief summaries of the Plan's key measures and their implementation dates. The measures listed cover Employment Law, Consumer Law , Company Law and Companies House, Energy and the Small Business Service.

HM Government Administrative Burdens of Regulation - Department of Trade and Industry

As part of its strategy for driving down the administrative burden of complying with regulations, government departments commissioned PwC to work with business and the voluntary sector to estimate the administrative costs of regulation.  This report, produced by the Better Regulation Executive alongside the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), provides a high level summary of the burdens relating to the DTI. To view the report please click on the link below:

Administrative Burdens Measurement Exercise Report

The primary purpose of this report written for the DTI by PwC is to communicate the results of the Administrative Burdens Measurement Exercise (ABME) for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The ABME forms part of the Government’s wider Administrative Burdens Reductions Project. This report (452 pages) presents the administrative costs for the regulation in scope for the DTI. It explains how the measurement was carried out, any variations in the planned implementation approach and how these were handled. It is accompanied by a separate "technical summary" document (79 pages) which forms a technical annex to the final reports prepared for each Government department. 

Energy Better Regulation Project Final Report

The Energy Better Regulation Project aimed to identify options for streamlining, simplification, consolidation and abolition of existing legislation. It also worked towards embedding processes such that future regulation is implemented to achieve its outcomes in a more efficient way.   This final report sets out the work which has been done during the project and work that will be undertaken in the future to address issues raised during the informal consultation process. To view the report please click on the link below :

Weights and Measures Paper

As part of its work to simplify weights and measures legislation, the DTI has also commissioned research by the National Consumer Council to assess consumer expectations and needs in the area of weights and measures. This will inform our further work to simplify the legislation. The NCC's report is available here.