6 Conclusions
99. Is the BRE getting results? The CBI told
us that: "The BRE has, in our view, been a positive force
in driving regulatory reform across Whitehall, [which] would occur
at a slower pace without [its] input and influence. It has encouraged
Departments to raise their game in communicating with business,
offering advice and holding focus groups on regulation, and has
helped develop a better regulation culture throughout Government."[173]
In oral evidence the CBI representative referred to the UK being
ahead of the game in Europe in areas such as impact assessments,
common commencement dates, and simplification plans.[174]
The IoD-another body with high standards in the area of regulatory
reform-referred to "the important contribution of the BRE
and the political will that its creation demonstrates."[175]
100. Professor Radaelli said "we should
not underestimate the achievement of having learned about better
regulation - most EU countries are still struggling with this
stage…The Better Regulation Executive is right to say that
they are leaders in Europe."[176]
He went on to say that the challenge was in better measurement
of progress and accountability and in showing how activities are
contributing to major desirable changes. We agree and we recommend
that the BRE focus its attention on delivery of current objectives
and on setting clear future objectives and measuring against them.
101. We believe that, in its short lifetime,
the BRE has made a significant contribution to improving the UK's
regulatory environment on the basis of a demanding agenda. Its
major challenges are to maintain strategic focus-particularly
if the new programme of regulatory budgets is adopted-and to ensure
that there is proper quality control and measurement of deliverables
against clear targets, including in relation to burdens reduction
figures. It needs, too, to be rigorous in assessing its own performance,
to focus on improving perceptions, and to look at improving some
of its internal operating procedures as we have suggested.
102. Finally, we are left in some doubt about
the extent to which the citizen in general is considered in matters
relating to the introduction of better regulation. That is an
issue to which we may well return.
173 Ev 38 Back
174
Q 34 Back
175
Ev 35 Back
176
Ev 190 Back
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