Better Regulation Delivery Office
A discussion document outlining plans to make assured regulatory advice available to all businesses in England and Wales, regardless of their size, has been published today alongside the governments Enterprise Bill.
Extending and simplifying Primary Authority: keeping the UK competitive, sets out proposals allowing all existing and pre-launch enterprises to choose a single local authority as their regulatory point of contact for relevant legislation, through the red-tape cutting scheme.
The discussion document explains how BIS intends to bring the benefits of Primary Authority to as many businesses as possible, as simply as possible, through measures in the Enterprise Bill published today (17th September). Businesses and regulators are being encouraged to respond to the plans.
Primary Authority has already helped over 7,250 businesses comply with local regulations across the country. The changes proposed in the Enterprise Bill will enable very many more businesses and entrepreneurs to grow and increase their productivity.
A strong evidence base is needed to ensure the simplification and extension of the scheme meets the needs of business and citizens.
The Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO), which administers Primary Authority, reviewed the operation of the scheme with many of those who use it (including 350 businesses and 100 local authority officers) and identified improvements that would make it work more effectively. The vision was considered at meetings with regulators and business representatives during July and August.
Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy, British Chambers of Commerce said: I can see a lot of businesses being excited. If they are in a boundary area between one local authority and another they should be able to pick the one that makes it easiest for them to do business.
The majority of the changes to Primary Authority will be made through the Enterprise Bill, which is now before Parliament. The main purpose of the discussion document is to raise awareness of the proposals and invite comments and evidence on how the proposals to simplify and extend the scheme will impact on businesses and regulators.
Feedback is requested by 22 October 2015, in the first instance, and is still welcome after this date. See our dedicated area on Citizen Space