WIREDGOV

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill receives Royal Assent

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release issued by The Government News Network on 23 July 2008

The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill, aimed at delivering better regulation to businesses across the country, has received Royal Assent.

The Act creates a new body, the Local Better Regulation Office, that will provide expert advice for central government on the way that local authorities regulate and help ensure more consistent, risk-based, application of regulation for businesses.

Regulators will also have access to a range of new powers that will provide a more appropriate and efficient alternative to criminal prosecution. The Act will create a provision to ensure regulators do not impose or maintain unnecessary burdens on those they regulate.

Business Minister Shriti Vadera said:

"The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act is a central part of the Government's ambitious better regulation agenda.

"It aims to provide consistent enforcement and increase the effectiveness of risk-based regulation across the country and ease the burden for business."

The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act is the latest step in the Government's Better Regulation agenda aimed at improving regulation, achieving user-friendly and effective new regulation and tackling inefficiencies in the way current regulations are enforced.

The new Act is all part of a drive to cut the cost to business of administering regulation by a quarter by 2010. The Government has already cut an estimated £800 million of administrative burdens from UK business.

1. The Act is delivering key recommendations of the Hampton Hampton: http://www.berr.gov.uk/bre/inspection-enforcement/assessing-regulatory-system/page44042.html and Macrory Reviews Macrory: http://www.berr.gov.uk/bre/reviewing-regulation/compliance-businesses/page44102.html

2. The Better Regulation Executive is taking forward the Government's better regulation agenda. http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/

3. Full details of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, including Guidance to the Act can be found at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/bre/inspection-enforcement/implementing-principles/sanctions-bills/page44047.html