Press Release - The Administrative Burdens
Reduction Programme, 2008
8 October 2008
Initiatives to reduce the administrative
burdens of complying with regulations have helped improve business
perceptions of the government’s approach to regulation but
businesses have not reported a reduction in the time taken to
comply with regulations.
The Administrative Burdens Reduction Programme
aims to reduce by a quarter by 2010 the cost to businesses of
complying with the administrative burdens imposed on them by
government regulations. A report out today by the National
Audit Office found that the Programme is providing an impetus
across departments to reducing burdens and that the targets have
created a stronger incentive to deliver.
In 2007 departments implemented over 150
specific measures to reduce administrative burdens and the majority
predict that they will meet their reduction target by 2010.
The total reported in-year savings of £800 million should, however,
be treated with caution. They are indicative estimates of the
actual savings and have been subject to only limited independent
validation.
The National Audit Office found a small
positive shift in businesses’ perceptions about regulation.
46 per cent of businesses thought regulation was fair and
proportionate, compared to 39 per cent in 2007. 70 per cent
said that completing paper work was a burden, down from 74 per cent
in 2007.
However, only 1 per cent of businesses
believed that complying with regulation had become less time
consuming in 2007 and 40 per cent said it has become more time
consuming.
The wider impact of the Programme remains
unproven. The Better Regulation Taskforce’s original aspiration was
that the Programme could contribute to a £16 billion increase in
GDP. But there is still limited evidence on the link between
reducing administrative burdens and improving business
performance.
Tim Burr, head of the National Audit
Office, said today:
“The Government’s initiative to drive
down administrative burdens on business has raised awareness of
regulatory reform and departments have begun to reduce some
burdens. The next step is to deliver tangible benefits for
businesses. Departments need to engage more directly with
businesses to focus on changes that will really help, and check
that the action they are taking is having the intended
effect.”
Notes for Editors
- Press notices and reports are available from
the date of publication on the NAO website, which is at
www.nao.org.uk. Hard copies can be obtained from The
Stationery Office on 0845 702 3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Tim
Burr, is the head of the National Audit Office which employs some
850 staff. He and the NAO are totally independent of
Government. He certifies the accounts of all Government
departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he
has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy,
efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other
bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 37/08
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