Irregulation

Citation

(2001), "Irregulation", Work Study, Vol. 50 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2001.07950aab.006

Irregulation

Irregulation

Lord Haskins, the Chair of the Better Regulation Task Force, said, as he launched the 1999-2000 report recently, that progress is being made in tackling business concerns about the burden of regulation, but there is much to be done. Lord Haskins said:

Regulation remains a very controversial issue. Businesses, especially small ones, are constantly and correctly telling the task force about the costs, and the time needed to comply with regulations. At the same time, consumer, environmental and trade union groups are equally and understandably concerned about market failures and regulatory shortcomings.

All government departments are now expected to apply the five "Principles of good regulation" when drawing up new regulations, and there is evidence that improvements have been made, as a result, to, for example, the Working Families Tax Credit, and the Working Time Directive (though there are still some concerns about both). Lord Haskins also said:

There is still a tendency to assume that regulation is the only effective way to deliver policy objectives; civil servants tend to create excessive control systems to protect themselves from public criticism; the result is often ineffective and burdensome regulation.

Lord Haskin concluded by making a plea to all political parties to measure their manifesto proposals for the next election against the principles of good regulation.