What sort of suggestions are we looking for?
Government is seeking ideas or suggestions for regulatory reform across the public, private, and third sectors and from individuals (Citizens). We are interested in hearing about how we can reduce the cost of regulation by doing things differently, for example, rationalising similar regulations or reducing information requirements. We’re also interested in hearing how regulation directly impacts on your organisation.
The problem I’ve identified doesn’t cost a lot of money, but would benefit from a change. Should I submit it?
Yes. We want a full range of ideas or suggestions including ones that are quick and easy to implement (e.g. inconsistent enforcement across jurisdictions, clarifications, amended guidance) as well as larger ideas or suggestions which might only be deliverable over a longer timescale through primary legislation.
I have no evidence. Will my suggestion be rejected?
The minimum we will need from you is a description of the problem with an idea or suggestion on how it could be improved. You should try to provide as much information as possible. This will help ensure that the responsible Department can consider your suggestion as fully as possible.
How will my idea or suggestion be dealt with?
The government has committed to respond to all ideas or suggestions within 90 days and look for ways we can help make them a reality. That is why all ideas or suggestions and responses will be published on the website. After making your initial idea or suggestion you will receive a notification outlining that it has been received. Once your idea or suggestion has been accepted for consideration by a department, it will be posted on the site. You will also be able to track your idea or suggestion at any stage within the 90 day period.
Do you implement all suggestions?
The Government aims to encourage as many ideas or suggestions as possible for consideration. However, this does not necessarily mean that they can all be taken forward. The responsible government department will have a period of 90 working days to consider the suggestion and respond.
Do you publish and respond to all suggestions?
- If your idea or suggestion does not meet the criteria set out in the terms and conditions, we will send it back to you along with an explanation of the reason for rejection. We will give you the option of altering and resubmitting the suggestion.
- If you decide not to resubmit your idea or suggestion, or if your second iteration is also rejected, it will be posted along with the reason for not accepting it on this website.
- More information is available on why an idea or suggestion would be rejected on the Rejected Ideas or suggestions page.
Who will I be in contact with?
After making your initial suggestions you will receive a notification outlining that your idea or suggestions has been received. This could come from:
- A member of the Better Regulation Unit within a department. This team is responsible for dealing with better regulation within the Department.
- A policy official within a department, who receives ideas or suggestions from stakeholders.
Can I submit my idea or suggestion anonymously?
- No. We cannot accept anonymous suggestions as we may need to contact you to clarify your suggestion or ask for more information. We also need to ensure the process is transparent as we will publish both your idea or suggestion and the departments response to it online. However, no personal details will be published on the website. Your information will not be used for any other purpose unless you choose to sign up for other services.
- Only the proposals you send us could be used under the rules of the Freedom of Information Act 2000(FOIA), the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. More details are available in our Privacy Policy.
I have heard the phrase ‘administrative burden’? What does this mean?
An administrative burden is the cost imposed, by government regulation on enterprises (including charities and voluntary sector) when complying with an obligations or checking on compliance stemming from government regulation. For instance filling in a form is an administrative cost, as is showing an inspector around a site.
I have heard the phrase ‘simplification’? What does this mean?
- Simplification means reviewing and reducing regulatory burdens for the public, private and voluntary sectors without removing the necessary protections regulation provides, for the environment or workers for example, a burden can be administrative e.g. the time taken to fill in forms or the time taken to meet requests for information from regulators or government departments. Or a burden can be policy related, e.g. a compulsory cost of buying new equipment to comply with a regulation.
- So, what are we doing to reduce this burden? For the first time in the UK, the Government has measured what it costs businesses in time, money and effort to administer regulation. Based on the evidence of this exercise the Government has recently announced over 500 initiatives that will cut red tape and bureaucracy by 25% by 2010 saving over £4bn in costs along the way.
- As part of this ongoing process it will be important to gather practical suggestions from those with experience of being regulated to ensure that we make regulation work for everyone.
- To find more on the wider Better Regulation agenda and the work of the BRE [External website]
- Read more about the Better Regulation Task Force 'Less is more' recommendations [BRC website]
- Find out more about the Principles of Better Regulation [BRC website]
- Read the Chancellor of the Exchequers speech launching the Better Regulation Action Plan [Treasury website]
- Read more about the Freedom of Information Act 2000 [FOI website]