The Department for Transport is committed to better regulation. We aim to ensure that we regulate only where absolutely necessary, our regulations and the ways we enforce them are fair and effective, and any burdens from regulation are kept to a minimum.

Regulations are often essential for the safety or security of people using and working on all forms of transport, or to protect the environment, but it is important to strike the right balance so that they do not impose unnecessary burdens or stifle growth.

To help us make sure that all these factors are taken into account, new regulations or changes to existing ones that would have an impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector or public services are accompanied by an Impact Assessment (IA). An IA is a framework for analysis of the range of options for implementing policy changes and the likely impacts, including the costs and benefits to all those affected.

We are taking forward a programme of work to simplify our regulations, reduce the administrative burdens that they cause (cut red tape), and improve our inspection and enforcement processes. This programme of work is set out in our Departmental Simplification Plan. The plan was first published in December 2006 and will be updated annually. The latest version of the plan was published in December 2009.

• Simplification plan
• Administrative burdens measurement exercise
• Impact assessments

If you want to contact us about the work we are doing please email simplificationdft@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

Suggestions for ways to reduce burdens and simplify any aspect of DfT regulation or enforcement can be submitted through the Government’s simplification website.