Impact assessment
Impact Assessments (IAs) are intended as a key tool to ensure regulation is proportionate to the issue it is designed to tackle. IAs will have a more prominent role in policy-making, be more transparent and build on the success of Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs).
IA Guidance and templates
New IA guidance and the interactive templates are available on the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reforms’ Better Regulation Executive Website at: www.berr.gov.uk/bre/policy/scrutinising-new-regulations/preparing-impact-assessments/page44077.html
Regulatory Impact Assessments
RIAs have been required for several years for any policy or piece of legislation that imposes costs on, or realise benefits to, business. They set out in a structured way the options, costs and benefits of a policy proposal. Since December 2004, RIAs have been embedded in a single document containing the Explanatory Memorandum, RIA and Transposition Note where necessary.
As we move to the new style Impact Assessments, arrangements for publishing these on the Internet will be different from that for RIAs and the need to retain RIAs on the internet will be reviewed. Whilst that review is underway Defra will continue to make RIAs from January 2005 available from the links below, and RIAs from January 2001 to December 2004 available by contacting Defra’s Regulation Division by phone on 020 7238 6455 or by emailing: simplificationproposal@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Further information on the future availability of RIAs will appear here in due course.
- 2008 Impact Assessments
- 2007 Regulatory Impact Assessments
- 2006 Regulatory Impact Assessments
- 2005 Regulatory Impact Assessments
Environmental Impact Guidance
A key component of the RIA guidance for Defra is the requirement on departments to measure the effect of new policies using environmental impact assessment. This provides a range of valuation techniques to place a monetary value on the environmental costs and benefits of different policy options.
Page last modified: 2 May 2008