Simplification Plan

Our Simplification Plan: 'Transport: Lightening the Load' (PDF, 419KB) sets out the measures we are taking forward to simplify regulations and deliver policy and administrative burdens reductions for the private and public sectors by 2010. We published the first version of the plan in December 2006 and we will update it every year. This years plan shows the considerable progress we have made so far with £230 million annual reductions in cost imposed on business and others delivered and a total approaching £500 million annual savings identified.

We produced the plan in cooperation with our key business and other stakeholders and will continue to develop the plan and add new measures. These will include further proposals that will reduce the "red tape" burdens from transport regulation, which were measured in 2005 as part of a Whitehall-wide project, the Administrative Burdens Measurement Exercise. This year's plan will deliver savings that achieve the target of a 25% reduction in these burdens by 2010.

Key measures in the plan include:

• Electronic Vehicle Licensing - (£33.9 million annual saving including nearly £14m administrative burden saving)
• Better Targeted HGV and PSV inspection (£100 million annual saving)
• Improvements to the rail franchise bidding procedures (£36.7 million administrative burden saving)
• Simplification of the ATOL bonding holiday assurance system – saving business £30.5 million a year including £12.5 million administrative burden

The Plan also sets out our commitment to reducing burdens on the public sector.  In an exercise carried out in summer 2007, we identified 17 categories of information (data streams) that the Department and our Executive Agencies gather from local authorities.  The 17 data streams (PDF, 79KB) involve information on a variety of areas including road maintenance, bus punctuality and traffic congestion.  The scope for simplification of these data streams is currently being considered.  We aim to reduce any burden they create by 30% by 2010.

We would welcome further ideas to contribute to this ambitious plan to reduce legislative burdens on business, the public, local authorities, the voluntary sector, and charities. You can pass these to us using the online template on the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's Better Regulation website at:
http://www.betterregulation.gov.uk/idea/

If you have any general comments on the Plan or questions you can email us at:
SimplificationDFT@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Or write to:

Better Regulation Unit
Europe International and Better Regulation Division
Department for Transport
Zone 4/13 Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

Simplification Plan 2007 (450 kb)

This sets out the programme of work to simplify our regulations, reduce the administrative burdens that they cause and improve our inspection and enforcement processes.

Published:

11 December 2007

Simplification Plan 2006 (273 kb)

This is the first edition of our Simplification Plan published in December 2006.

Published:

13 December 2006