Enforcement under scrutiny
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The enforcement of vehicle standards regulations is under review to determine whether it could be reduced or enforcement bodies could be rationalised.
The review of enforcement is part of a wider study into the legislation governing vehicle standards, its costs to industry, its benefits, the burdens it places elsewhere and any relevant EC legislation.
It is the second stage in Prime Minister John Major's drive for deregulation. The first stage was announced two weeks ago in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill (see news analysis page IA
Ex-civil servant Peter Gerosa who is commissioned by the Department of Transport to carry out the review, is to also identify "the scope of reducing the impact of legislation whether by changes in the legislation itself; by reducing enforcement; or by enforcing differently to improve cost effectiveness, eg replacement of regular checks by spot audit".
The Government's review of enforcement and the look at rationalising enforcement bodies will take into account "the safety, environmental and security benefits of the regulations, the impact of any change on business, the resources which would be saved and any legal constraints".
Gerosa has been asked to complete the review by the end of March and report to the DOT permanent secretary Patrick Brown. (See Comment–page 7)