§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for a review of overlapping local authority enforcement functions; and what the terms of reference for such a review will be.
§ Mr. HeseltineIn response to concerns of business, and following the announcement after the Prime Minister's last progress meeting on deregulation, that ways of eliminating duplication between enforcement agencies should be reviewed, the Government have decided that there should be a review of the enforcement functions of local authorities. This review has started today with the following terms of reference
To investigate the organisational arrangements for the enforcement functions of local authorities, except insofar as they relate to fire safety, and to report on the scope for minimising business compliance costs and enforcement costs, as well as reducing inconsistencies in enforcement by removing any duplication and improving co-ordination within and between enforcement functions. The study should:
- (a) review experience of co-ordination of enforcement, particularly within existing unitary authorities and also within and between other authorities;
- (b) assess the scope for wider-coordination of regulatory functions by all authorities; and
- (c) make recommendations on the means available to central and local government to promote good practice.
The scrutiny will report to Ministers within the 90 working days which are allowed under efficiency scrutiny guidelines.
The Secretary of State for the Environment and I will be the supervising Ministers for the scrutiny. The scrutiny team will be advised by a steering group which will include officials from interested Government Departments together with representatives of the local authority associations.
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