“We are unashamedly pro-business.” This statement, in December 2014 by Matthew Hancock, the UK business minister, leaves little room for interpretation: better regulation is first and foremost an industry-friendly agenda. The strategy put in place illustrates the power impact assessments (IAs) can have in the policy making process – and also gives an idea of the biases such measures entail.
The UK system – which triggers GBP2.2 billion yearly net savings to business, the government says – boils down to…