§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the distinction is between regulatory impact assessments where(a) the benefits justify the costs and (b) the benefits outweigh the costs. [183217]
§ Mr. AlexanderI have been asked to reply.
The Cabinet Office guidance "Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment" requires the responsible Minister to certify that he or she is satisfied that the benefits of the proposed measure justify its costs. The Minister will consider the full range of benefits arising from the measure, including social, environmental and economic.