Source · National Audit Office
Regulating after EU Exit
This report assesses how UK regulators have managed taking on new responsibilities following EU Exit.
Published: 18 May 2022
Recommendations: 10
Type: Value for Money
NAO confirmed: 10
Department: Unknown (355)
Recommendations
While government as a whole is still working on its future direction for regulation, regulators need to develop, with policy-makers, their long-term strategies and objectives. In line with our principles of effective regulation, these should articulate a clear line of sight linking high-level and statutory objectives to detailed operational objectives, plans and priorities. This will enable them to build their capacity and processes and prioritise their workload to ensure their detailed objectives support overall desired policy outcomes.
Recommendation 2
Now there is more clarity on demand for new regulatory functions, regulators should review the plans they developed before EU Exit in the light of what they now know about their capacity and their workload. They should test the realism of their current plans and take any necessary steps to ensure their operational effectiveness is maximised as well as looking for efficiencies in delivery. These reviews should consider what scope and need the regulator has to:
? build capacity and skills;
? flex deadlines or work programmes to match workload to resources;
? use other international channels to cooperate and influence regulatory changes; and
? build new tools for risk identification.
? build capacity and skills;
? flex deadlines or work programmes to match workload to resources;
? use other international channels to cooperate and influence regulatory changes; and
? build new tools for risk identification.
Recommendation 3
Regulators should ensure that, as soon as they are able, they provide clarity to stakeholders on their direction of travel and the timelines for any planned changes. As set out in good practice guidance, this is important to allow stakeholders to plan and to hold regulators to account.
Recommendation 4
The challenges faced by the three regulators we have examined in detail may be similar to those faced by others across government as they develop their post-EU Exit plans. We therefore recommend that government draws on the findings in this report as it considers the future of regulation after EU Exit more widely ? for example, in its work in response to the consultation on the framework for better regulation.
Recommendation 5
While government as a whole is still working on its future direction for regulation, regulators need to develop, with policy-makers, their long-term strategies and objectives. In line with our principles of effective regulation, these should articulate a clear line of sight linking high-level and statutory objectives to detailed operational objectives, plans and priorities. This will enable them to build their capacity and processes and prioritise their workload to ensure their detailed objectives support overall desired policy outcomes.
Recommendation 6
Now there is more clarity on demand for new regulatory functions, regulators should review the plans they developed before EU Exit in the light of what they now know about their capacity and their workload. They should test the realism of their current plans and take any necessary steps to ensure their operational effectiveness is maximised as well as looking for efficiencies in delivery. These reviews should consider what scope and need the regulator has to:
? build capacity and skills;
? flex deadlines or work programmes to match workload to resources;
? use other international channels to cooperate and influence regulatory changes; and
? build new tools for risk identification.
? build capacity and skills;
? flex deadlines or work programmes to match workload to resources;
? use other international channels to cooperate and influence regulatory changes; and
? build new tools for risk identification.
Recommendation 7
Regulators should ensure that, as soon as they are able, they provide clarity to stakeholders on their direction of travel and the timelines for any planned changes. As set out in good practice guidance, this is important to allow stakeholders to plan and to hold regulators to account.
Recommendation 8
While government as a whole is still working on its future direction for regulation, regulators need to develop, with policy-makers, their long-term strategies and objectives. In line with our principles of effective regulation, these should articulate a clear line of sight linking high-level and statutory objectives to detailed operational objectives, plans and priorities. This will enable them to build their capacity and processes and prioritise their workload to ensure their detailed objectives support overall desired policy outcomes.
Recommendation 9
Now there is more clarity on demand for new regulatory functions, regulators should review the plans they developed before EU Exit in the light of what they now know about their capacity and their workload. They should test the realism of their current plans and take any necessary steps to ensure their operational effectiveness is maximised as well as looking for efficiencies in delivery. These reviews should consider what scope and need the regulator has to:
? build capacity and skills;
? flex deadlines or work programmes to match workload to resources;
? use other international channels to cooperate and influence regulatory changes; and
? build new tools for risk identification.
? build capacity and skills;
? flex deadlines or work programmes to match workload to resources;
? use other international channels to cooperate and influence regulatory changes; and
? build new tools for risk identification.
Recommendation 10
Regulators should ensure that, as soon as they are able, they provide clarity to stakeholders on their direction of travel and the timelines for any planned changes. As set out in good practice guidance, this is important to allow stakeholders to plan and to hold regulators to account.