§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulatory impact assessments have been produced by her Department since August 2001; and if she will list those produced(a) following initial consultation with affected parties about the most appropriate methodology for assessing costs and other impacts and (b) which set out full commercial impacts, including profitability, employment, consumer prices and competitiveness, as recommended in Good Policy Making. [28406]
§ Ms HewittThe Department has produced 10 regulatory impact assessments since August 2001. The RIAs relate to:
- Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations
- The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971 (Electronic Communications) Order 2001
- The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2001
- Utilities Act 2000: Electricity Licence Exemptions
- The Maternity and Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2001
- The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Explosive Atmospheres (Amendment) Regulations 2001
- The Copyright, etc. and Trade Marks (Offences and Enforcement) Bill
- The Registered Designs (Amendment) Rules 2001 and The Registered Designs (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2001 (combined RIA)
- The Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 2001
- The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources (Locational Flexibility) Order 2001.
All full regulatory impact assessments are placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Good Policy Making Guide recommends that policy makers take early soundings from affected parties. The results of these informal consultations are not required to be produced in a RIA at this stage. However, Departments are advised to include a partial RIA in formal consultations. Consultations can be accessed via www.ukonline.gov.uk/citizenspace/consultations/.
The Good Policy Making Guide does recommend that as part of the RIA' s assessment of costs and benefits, any additional costs and indirect costs should be identified and quantified stating who or what bears them.
There is no specific requirement in the Good Policy Making Guide to consult on appropriate methodology. Nor is there a specific requirement to set out the information at (b). The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.