HC Deb 02 February 2004 vol 417 cc649-50W
Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) partial and (b) full regulatory impact assessments have been undertaken in relation to EU legislation for each year since 1998; and if she will make a statement. [151364]

Nigel Griffiths

Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) are produced for all policy proposals that have a cost to or benefit for business irrespective of the origins of the policy. Copies of full RIAs are placed in the Libraries of the House. Records of the origin of each policy proposal are not held centrally.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the quantification of the costs and benefits of regulations on(a) consumers, (b) small and medium-sized businesses and (c) the Government in the course of regulatory impact assessments. [151365]

Nigel Griffiths

The costs and benefits of a policy proposal are collated in consultation with stakeholders and recorded in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). All RIAs are required to include a small firms impact test to ensure that policy proposals do not have a disproportionate effect on small businesses. The assessments also include a competition assessment to ensure that any policy proposals do not have negative effects on competition. Costs to Government, including enforcement costs, are included in the RIA.

Copies of full RIAs are placed in the Libraries of the House.