FOREWORD—what this
Report is about
In this report, we set out our views on the Annual
Policy Strategy for 2009, in which the Commission describes its
priorities and plans for the coming year. The Annual Policy Strategy
gives us the opportunity to scrutinise the Commission's intentions
as early in the legislative process as possible.
Given the fact that a new college of Commissioners
will be appointed in November 2009, we comment on the Commission's
overarching priorities for next year. We give our preliminary
views on some of the Commission's plans, considering whether the
Commission's proposed action is appropriate and achievable. We
aim to influence the Commission's Legislative and Work Programme,
which will be published in the autumn and will set out detailed
plans for 2009 on the basis of dialogue on the Annual Policy Strategy.
We examine what the Commission says in the Annual
Policy Strategy about its better regulation agenda and communication
priorities for 2009. We also scrutinise the Commission's proposed
allocation of personnel and funding, and comment on whether the
Commission seems to be backing up its priorities with real resources.
We discuss the Annual Policy Strategy as a consultation
document, including whether there is enough clarity about the
document's purpose. Finally, we express our views on whether the
Government gives sufficient attention to the Annual Policy Strategy.
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