Local Better Regulation Office

Andrew Rosindell
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what the budget is for the Local Better Regulation Office in each year between 2007 and 2012;

(2) how much her Department expects to spend on the establishment of the Local Better Regulation Office.

Mr. McFadden
The Local Better Regulation Office's (LBRO) key role will be to reduce burdens on business without compromising regulatory outcomes and working in partnership with local authorities, national regulators and departments to drive up the quality of local authority regulatory services. As a result of LBRO’s activities the Government expect to see compliant businesses benefiting from a regulatory regime that is less burdensome, more consistent, more coordinated and better targeted.

The Treasury has allocated the Cabinet Office £2.7 million for 2007-08; and provisionally £5.3 million for 2008-09; £4.4 million for 2009-10 and £4.4 million for 2010-11 to set up and fund the Local Better Regulation Office. The budget for 2011-12 has not yet been established.

Expenditure establishing the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) is expected to be in the region of £325,000 (ex VAT).

Andrew Rosindell
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Local Better Regulation Office will continue to operate after 2012.

Mr. McFadden
The Local Better Regulation Office’s (LBRO) key role will be to reduce burdens on business without compromising regulatory outcomes and working in partnership with local authorities, national regulators and departments to drive up the quality of local authority regulatory services. As a result of LBRO’s activities the Government expect to see compliant businesses benefiting from a regulatory regime that is less burdensome, more consistent, more coordinated and better targeted.

It is anticipated that at some point in the future the LBRO’s work will be complete. The Government proposals regarding the circumstances under which the LBRO might be dissolved is included in a consultation document for the Draft Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill the Government published on 15 May 2007.

Andrew Rosindell
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, (1) what steps her Department is taking to assist the Local Better Regulation Office in improving the performance of local authority regulatory services;

(2) what steps her Department is taking to assist the Local Better Regulation Office in making regulation simpler.

Mr. McFadden
The role of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) is to reduce burdens on business without compromising regulatory outcomes and working in partnership with local authorities, national regulators and departments to drive up the quality of local authority regulatory services.

The Cabinet Office has played a key role in the development of the LBRO including the recruitment of the Board and Chief Executive and securing the office space. My Department provide LBRO with access to a breadth of better regulation experience and expertise. They will continue to provide such advice and assistance but, as the LBRO Board formally take up their appointments, LBRO will take on responsibility for the development of their own organisational structure and policies.

In addition, on 15 May 2007 the Government published a consultation document which set out in detail its proposals regarding the role of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) including its role in helping to improve the performance of local authority regulatory services and making regulation simpler.