Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

We fully support the amendments of my noble friend Lord Cope, which concern the better regulation that we are all supposed to be bringing about. We therefore support the need for there always to be a two-way consultation process in which the Government speak to the LBRO and the LBRO, ideally placed as it will be, speaks to the Government. The amendment will stipulate such communication as a duty of the LBRO and, it is hoped, will go some way to preventing the introduction of unnecessary or irrelevant regulations. The LBRO would be able to tell the Government how proposed regulations would fit and whether they might cause an intolerable burden for the regulators. Surely the Minister thinks it is a good idea for Her Majesty’s Government to receive as much advice as possible if they really are, to quote the Minister, "““undertaking one of the most radical reform agendas””.—[Official Report, 21/1/08; col. GC 3.]"