Good Practice: Regulatory Impact Assessments

Introduction to RIAs
Our Work
Good Practice in RIAs
Methodology
Relevant Guidance
Useful Links
Team Contacts

Since 2003, the NAO Regulation team has undertaken independent evaluations of the quality and thoroughness of a sample of Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs). The evaluations aim to identify elements of good and bad practice and highlight learning points, in a published Compendium Report. The third of these reports, Evaluation of Regulatory Impact Assessments 2005-06, was published in June 2006. It highlights the need for departments to give greater emphasis and effort to the ex-post evaluation of regulation to ensure that it is fulfilling its original objectives.

In our first two years, we evaluated a sample of RIAs from across Government. Despite this, we saw no 'step change' in their quality. We therefore broadened our examination to assess how departments are seeking to embed impact assessment into their processes and cultures. We focused our work on four departments - DTI, Transport, Home Office and Culture Media and Sport. In undertaking our work, the NAO liaises with the Cabinet Office's Better Regulation Executive and the independent Better Regulation Commission. Descriptions of the roles of these organisations and more background and details of the NAO's work are given in the Introduction to RIAs page.