The Better Regulation Framework: Guidance explains the United Kingdom Government’s system for managing regulatory proposals and assessing their effects. The framework applies to defined regulatory provisions affecting business activities and promotes proportionate intervention, consideration of non-regulatory alternatives, evidence-based decision-making and evaluation of implemented measures. It supports ministerial decisions, parliamentary scrutiny, transparency and compliance with international commitments, while excluding specified matters such as taxation, procurement, grants and commencement orders. The guidance establishes a regulatory policy cycle comprising initial policy development, pre-implementation assessment and post-implementation review. Departments must identify the rationale for intervention, examine regulatory and non-regulatory options, assess costs and benefits, and consider impacts on businesses, households, trade, competition, innovation, natural capital and decarbonisation. Regulatory proposals exceeding the prescribed business-impact threshold generally require an Options Assessment and independent scrutiny by the Regulatory Policy Committee, followed by a final regulatory impact assessment where applicable. Exclusions and exemptions cover specified categories, including certain international obligations, court judgments, technical amendments, regulator operations, penalties, building safety measures, urgent measures and provisions below the de minimis threshold. Departments must develop monitoring and evaluation arrangements, consider statutory review or sunset provisions, publish required impact assessments and relevant scrutiny opinions alongside legislation, and conduct proportionate post-implementation reviews. The guidance describes the respective responsibilities of departmental Better Regulation Units, the Better Regulation Executive and the Regulatory Policy Committee, as well as procedures for collective governmental agreement and parliamentary introduction. Its annexes address small, micro and medium-sized business assessments, impact-calculation methods, household costs, international trade and investment, templates, calculators, terminology and related policy-development resources.
Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии · 2023-09-01