Regulation, Competition and Consumers

Regulation affects almost every sector of the government and economy. When it is designed and implemented well, regulation can be a helpful tool of government; providing valuable protection whilst encouraging innovation.

However, poorly designed or implemented regulations, or ineffective regulators can impose burdens on the people being regulated (whether that’s the public sector, business or individuals) and may not produce the intended outcome – for example they may fail to protect consumers.

The NAO carries out a range of work on Regulatory issues. We are the statutory auditor of economic regulators funded by central government, and we have developed expertise in wider regulatory and consumer issues.

These pages pull together the work done by the whole practice – the regulation team and the wider office.

Features

BERR’s oversight of the Post Office Network Change Programme

In May 2007 the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) approved plans to close up to 2,500 post offices. The closures are known as the Network Change Programme. Prior to the programme the Post Office had a network of around 14,000 offices and in the financial year 2005–06 it lost £130 million.

Read full article: BERR’s oversight of the Post Office Network Change Programme 

Regulating the Security Industry

The private security industry covers a number of services. These include security guarding, door supervision and vehicle clamping. The industry employs about 500,000 people across the United Kingdom. About half are employed on a contract basis rather than directly employed by security companies, and are subject to regulation.

Read full feature: Regulating the Security Industry

Hampton Reviews

In 2004, the Chancellor of the Exchequer asked Philip Hampton, a leading businessman, to lead a review of regulatory inspection and enforcement. Philip Hampton’s 2005 report set out an ambitious programme to reduce the burdens on business created by regulatory systems, together with principles to guide effective inspection and enforcement, putting risk assessment at the heart of regulatory assessment, and intended to encourage a regulatory system which properly balances protection and prosperity.

Read full feature: Hampton Reviews