§ Dr. CableTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many regulatory impact assessments have been(a) conducted and (b) published by the Financial Services Authority in each of the last five years; and what percentage of new regulatory measures this represents. [172903]
§ Ruth KellyThe matters raised in this question are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. The following figures have been provided by the FSA. They are for the number of cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) conducted and published by the FSA over the past five years. The proportion of new measures these represent is given in brackets. In 2003, 42 (93 per cent.); 2002, 41 (93 per cent.); 2001, 27 (71 per cent.); 2000, 29 (71); and in 1999, 8 (42 per cent.).