Dear Colleague,
Davidson Review: Implementation of EU Legislation
I should like to invite you to submit evidence to an independent review that the Government has asked me to lead of the UK’s implementation of EU legislation. The Review will focus on the issue of ‘over-implementation’ and examine areas where the UK has regulations that are stricter or more burdensome than required by current EU legislation.
The context for the Review is the Government’s drive to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on business and other stakeholders, as set out in Chapter 3 of the 2005 Pre-Budget Report. Around half of new regulations that impact on business derive from the EU and there are now systems in place to ensure that such laws are not ‘over-implemented’, unless there is a strong and proven case for doing so. However the stock of existing UK laws may include areas that were not implemented in the least burdensome way possible, thereby placing the UK at a competitive disadvantage.
The Review will look for evidence of ‘over-implementation’ in its broadest sense from transposition – the process of writing EU legislation into national law - through to enforcement. The Review will include in its scope instances of goldplating, doublebanking and regulatory creep, the terms for which are explained in the accompanying document. Wherever possible, the Review will seek to identify proposals for deregulation or simplification that government departments may be able to include in their simplification plans to help reduce the burdens of their legislation.
In the accompanying ‘call for evidence’ I have outlined the issues on which we would like to hear your views and the examples of over-implementation, supported by evidence, which we are particularly keen to receive. This letter is being sent to key contacts across government, regulators, the business community and contacts in other European Member States. The letter is also being posted on the Review website www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/davidson_review/
I should be grateful if you would send your submission to the Review team by 25th May. Early submissions of evidence would be gratefully received. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your contribution.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Davidson QC
