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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)

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

Fracking for shale gas in England

This report sets out the facts about the government’s support of shale gas development in England.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
23 Oct 2019

Ensuring food safety and standards

This report examines the effectiveness of regulations to ensure that food is safe and is what it says it is.

Sector(s): Food and farming, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Regulation

Department(s): Food Standards Agency

Published:
12 Jun 2019

Regulating to protect consumers: Utilities, communications and financial services markets

This report assesses how well Ofwat, Ofgem, Ofcom and the FCA measure and report their performance in protecting consumer interests.

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

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

Published:
20 Mar 2019

A Short guide to Regulation

The NAO is publishing a suite of short guides for the new Parliament, 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): Parliament, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Commercial, Regulation

Published:
27 Sep 2017