"Better regulation" report published

Scottish Government welcomes recommendations to benefit business

News, 4 August 2008

Better regulation resulting from improved co-operation between business and the Scottish Government is the aim of a report published today.

The first report of the Regulatory Review Group, produced in partnership with the Scottish Government, was welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney.

The report calls on government and business to move to a way of creating and changing regulation which is a true partnership between both parties. Each government department and regulator that introduces or enacts legislation affecting business should have a group of businesses that it uses to "road test" all relevant legislative literature and forms prior to implementation.

A new, shorter and simpler business impact assessment should be introduced, and regulators should be allowed to adopt a more commonsense approach in enforcing regulations.

It is also proposed that the Scottish Government should have the right to make its own case directly to the European Union where it feels this is necessary, rather than relying on the relevant Westminster department.

Culture shift

Mr Swinney said the report would signal the start of a new, more productive approach to regulation, that would see vastly improved co-operation between business and government.

"At a time of global economic uncertainty, it is crucial that we all work together to deliver the kind of competitive environment in which businesses can flourish.

"That means all regulation should be carefully road-tested to determine exactly how it will impact on business. That's a key recommendation of today's report and one that we are determined to take forward as a government.

"Today's report will signal a new era where we can work together with business to deliver this greatly improved, partnership approach to the regulations we introduce as a government."

Professor Russel Griggs of the CBI in Scotland, chair of the Regulatory Review Group said: "To achieve what we believe is possible, as is set out in our annual report, to make Scotland the leader in regulation, in terms of its appropriateness and proportionality to all parties involved, will take a real culture shift across business, government, and its regulators.

"We have been impressed by the desire from all sides for that change to happen, as we can all see the benefits it will bring both to our economy and to the way we do things. Our next year will be focused on making sure it does happen, which will require good and sometimes strong leadership from all those with influence."

The report is available via this link.