Recommendation 21

The equivalent programme in 2025 was successful, but unlike this earlier initiative there are currently no individual targets set for departments and their regulators.48 DBT told us it did not consider individual targets would be necessary to identify whether departments were putting effort into the exercise.49 Instead, it expected to drive progress forward through cross-governmental working and rely on annual simplification plans from departments.50 However, neither DBT nor HM Treasury provided any evidence that they had levers to drive departmental behaviour. If the spring update shows the target is off-track the Unit lacks strong accountability measures to hold departments to account.51 43 Q 53 44 HMT, New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, 17 March 2025 (updated 21 October 2025). The hearing took place 16 March 2026. 45 C&AG’s report, paras 1.22 and 1.26 46 C&AG’s report, paras 10 and 1.14 47 Q 37 48 Qq 50 and 69 49 Q 70 50 Qq 37 and 69 51 Qq 50, 52, 65, 69, 70 and 74 12