The CBI responds to Smarter Regulation consultation

In October 2023, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) invited responses to a consultation on ‘Smarter regulation and the regulatory landscape’. This was part of a wider series of consultation seeking to identify what works well and what could be improved in how regulators operate to deliver for the sectors they serve. In addition, DBT wanted to understand any further steps which could be taken to reform the existing stock of regulation on the UK statute book.

CBI members understand that regulation and the role of regulators has a significant impact on the competitiveness of the UK as a place to operate a business.

The CBI's submission builds on our response to the Retained EU Law bill carried out in early 2023, and makes three recommendations. If we are to make the UK the most competitive jurisdiction for operating a business, launching new products and commercialising intellectual property then the Government needs to deliver or facilitate:

1. Greater clarity on how regulation supports the UK’s plan for economic growth by improving regulator mechanisms through ‘strategic steers’
2. Crowding-in private sector investment by using long-term frameworks to enable innovation
3. Supporting the delivery of smart regulation as an enabler by deepening regulatory skills and the capacity of regulators to deliver on their mandate