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Regulation

Regulation exists to protect people, businesses, the environment and/or economic growth, stability and market operations. When proportionate, targeted, consistent, transparent and accountable, regulation delivers important benefits. However, regulation also creates costs for organisations and, if overused, inappropriately designed or poorly implemented, it can stifle competitiveness and growth.

Government has therefore rightly decided that rule-based approaches should be a last resort - used when alternatives such as market-based structures, self-regulation and other enforcement practices aren't enough. Departments have also been told to limit the cost of regulation to organisations.

Although regulation is only used when necessary, it is an important way of ensuring that public services work as desired, especially when more are being delivered locally. And where there is regulation, government needs to balance the protection of customers against prices, costs and organisational efficiencies.

Key NAO publications:

A Short Guide to Regulation (Aug 2015)
Using alternatives to regulation to achieve policy objectives (Jun 2014)
Business Perceptions Survey 2014 (May 2014)

Regulating after EU Exit

This report assesses how UK regulators have managed taking on new responsibilities following EU Exit.

Sector(s): Europe, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): European Union, Exiting the EU, Regulation

Department(s): Competition and Markets Authority, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department of Health and Social Care, Food Standards Agency, HM treasury

Published:
18 May 2022

Investigation into the British Steel pension scheme

This investigation examines the British Steel Pension Scheme.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Regulation, consumers and competition, Welfare, Pensions and Employment

Performance Improvement area(s): Oversight of service delivery, Regulation

Department(s): Cabinet Office

Published:
18 Mar 2022

Departmental Overview 2020-21: Regulation

A brief summary of what regulation is for, how it is done, and an update on key developments

Sector(s): Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Commercial, Regulation, Support to Boards

Published:
1 Mar 2022

Understanding storm overflows: Exploratory analysis of Environment Agency data

Insights we have drawn from exploratory analysis of data used by the Environment Agency as part of its regulation of storm overflows

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Analysis, Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
17 Sep 2021

Principles of effective regulation

This framework is intended as a useful tool for policymakers and regulators overseeing any given market.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise

Performance Improvement area(s): Commercial, Economic growth, Regulation

Department(s): Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, HM treasury

Published:
25 May 2021

Investigation into remediating dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings

This investigation sets out how MHCLG is overseeing the remediation of dangerous cladding under its Building Safety Programme.

Sector(s): Local services, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Accountability in local service delivery, Infrastructure finance, Regulation

Department(s): Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
19 Jun 2020

Water supply and demand management

This report sets out the challenges facing the water industry in England and assesses how Defra is tackling them.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Infrastructure, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
25 Mar 2020

Overview Regulation 2019

The NAO is publishing a suite of Departmental Overviews, one for each government department and a selection of cross-government issues, to assist House of Commons Select Committees and Members of Parliament.

Sector(s): Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Commercial, Regulation, Support to Boards

Published:
18 Mar 2020

Gambling regulation: problem gambling and protecting vulnerable people

This report examines the extent to which gambling regulation protects people from gambling‑related harms and addresses emerging risks.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Regulation, User choice and consumer protection

Department(s): Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport

Published:
28 Feb 2020

Electricity networks

This report examines how effectively Ofgem has used electricity network price controls to protect consumers and achieve government’s environmental goals.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Ofgem

Published:
30 Jan 2020