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Kavanagh et al: British Politics 5e

Chapter 14

The British state today: power, meta-governance and regulation

The Better Regulation Executive
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/
The Better Regulation Executive's aim is to "reduce and remove unnecessary regulation for the public, private and voluntary sectors". Here you can monitor its progress in realising these objectives. Of particular interest is the information on the controversial Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill of 2006 which is available on the site and details of the Davidson Review of the Implementation of EU Legislation.

The General Medical Council
www.gmc-uk.org/
The General Medical Council is a good example of self-regulation of the professions: in this case of doctors who are licensed by the General Medical Council to practice. Here you will be able to find out more about this regulatory role in practice and how legislation shapes and guides the activities of the GMC.

The Financial Services Authority
www.fsa.gov.uk/
The Financial Services Authority has proved a controversial regulator of the financial services industry in the UK. Its powers have been extended by the current Labour government, yet it has also met with criticism from the Prime Minister for damaging the growth of the industry. You can review its activities and begin to make up your own mind at the website.

The Office for Fair Access
www.offa.org.uk/
With the introduction of variable tuition fees as a consequence of the Higher Education Act of 2004, a condition of a University charging higher tuition fees became efforts to promote wider access to Universities. The Office for Fair Access has responsibility for regulating Universities in this regard, particularly in approving 'access agreements' which include bursaries for those on low incomes. You can find out about this form of regulation of Universities at the website and find the access agreements which have been approved.

Consumers for Health Choice
www.healthchoice.org.uk/default.aspx
As this chapter points out, it is important to remember that as a member of the European Union, the regulatory regime in the UK has become Europeanised. Recent efforts on behalf of the European Union to regulate food supplements such as vitamins have provoked a vociferous campaign by an unusual coalition of the Conservative Party, Eurosceptics, pharmaceutical suppliers and consumers. At this well-organised website you will be able to review the arguments of one element of that campaign and find links to other organisations.