Principles of Good Regulation
The Better Regulation Task
Force has recently revised its Principles of Good Regulation leaflet, which
it first published in 1998 and revised in 2000. Government Departments and
independent regulators alike should use them when considering new proposals
and evaluating existing regulations.
The principles have been taken up in the Better Regulation Executive's
Regulatory Impact
Assessment Guidance [Better Regulation Executive
website].
In summary, the five principles are that good regulation should be:
-
Proportionate: Regulators should only intervene when necessary. Remedies
should be appropriate to the risk posed, and costs identified and
minimised.
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Accountable: Regulators must be able to justify decisions, and be subject
to public scrutiny.
-
Consistent: Government rules and standards must be joined up and
implemented fairly.
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Transparent: Regulators should be open, and keep regulations simple and
user friendly.
-
Targeted: Regulation should be focused on the problem, and minimise side
effects.
Attachments:
Useful links:
