The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require departments to produce and publish impact assessments for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies and the public sector.

I have today presented to Parliament Command Papers listing impact assessments published between July and December 2005 and January to 30 June 2006. These are the 24th and 25th such Command Papers. Copies have been placed in the Library for the reference of noble Lords and will be available in the Printed Paper Office