When introducing or amending legislation, including new regulations, Government has to assess whether they pose risks for individuals and organisations, particularly in relation to their health and safety, their finances, and for the environment. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) document outlines this assessment. Full guidance on the completion of RIAs can be found on the Cabinet Office website. These are our RIAs.
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
From 7 November 2005, all government departments undertaking an RIA should complete a legal aid impact test, if their proposed policy might impose a cost burden to the legal aid scheme or the workload of the courts. The Cabinet Office RIA guidance has been updated to reflect this.
| 29 November 2006 |
Legal Services Bill: RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the Legal Service Bill. The Legal Services Bill sets out the Government's legislative proposals
to reform the way legal services are regulated and delivered. These proposals
will put the consumer interest at the heart of the regulatory framework.
| 17 November 2006 |
Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill: RIAs
This is a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill. The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill includes a range of Government's proposals including: reform of the tribunal system; changes to the eligibility requirements for appointment to judicial office; unification of the law relating to enforcement by seizure of goods and regulation of bailiffs; measures to increase the effectiveness of the enforcement of civil court judgments, measures to protect the over-indebted and immunity from seizure for cultural property on loan to the UK.
| 7 August 2006 |
Criminal Defence Service Act: Final RIA
The final regulatory impact assessment for the Criminal Defence Service Act 2006 sets out the context in which the Act was introduced. The creation of the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) was part of the Government's fundamental reform of the legal aid system, as set out in the Access to Justice Act 1999. The purpose of the CDS is to ensure access for individuals involved in criminal investigations or criminal proceedings to such advice, assistance and representation as the interests of justice require.
| 25 July 2006 |
Draft Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill: RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the draft Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill. The draft Bill will provide a new overarching statutory framework for tribunals. This framework will support the new executive agency, the Tribunals Service, (launched on 3rd April 2006) in delivering improved services to users. It will also clarify the relationship of tribunals to the courts and the wider administrative justice system.
| 17 July 2006 |
Court of Protection Rules consultation paper: RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the Court of Protection Rules consultation paper. The RIA was published on 17 July 2006. The consultation paper seeks views and comments on the provisions of the draft rules of court that will govern proceedings before the new Court of Protection. It also seeks general comments as to the framework that the draft rules provide and on the individual rules.
| 12 June 2006 |
The draft Coroners Bill: full RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the draft Coroners Bill. The RIA was published on 12 June 2006. The draft Coroners Bill was introduced in Parliament on 12 June 2006. The bill aims to modernise the coroner system so that it provides a more effective response to bereaved families and others who are touched by the service
| 24 May 2006 |
The draft Legal Services Bill and full RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment for the draft Legal Services Bill. The RIA was published on 24 May 2006. The draft Legal Services Bill was introduced in Parliament on 24 May 2006. The Bill sets out the Government's legislative proposals to reform the way legal services are regulated and delivered. These proposals will put the consumer interest at the heart of the regulatory framework
| 18 May 2006 |
The Review of the Child Care Proceedings System in England & Wales: final RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment of the review of the child care proceedings system in England and Wales. The RIA and the review were published on 18 May 2006. The review was commissioned in the fairer deal for legal aid paper which was published on 5 July 2005.
| 19 December 2005 |
Proceeds of crime act 2002 (legal expenses in civil recovery proceedings) regulations
This is the full regulatory and race impact assessment for the Proceeds of Crime
Act 2002 (legal expenses in civil recovery proceedings) regulations 2005. The
regulations were laid before parliament on 8 December 2005 and come into force
on 1 January 2006.
| 7 November 2005 |
Supporting magistrates' courts to provide justice - RIA
This is a regulatory impact assessment of the likely impact of the proposals
in the Supporting Magistrates' Courts to provide Justice White Paper.
The white paper was published on 7 November 2005.
| 3 November 2005 |
Compensation Bill: final regulatory impact assessment
This is the final regulatory impact assessment (RIA) on the impact of the introduction of statutory regulation of the claims management sector to be introduced by the Compensation Bill.
| 11 October 2005 |
Electoral
Administration Bill: final regulatory impact assessment 
[PDF 152kb,
30 pages]
This is the final regulatory impact assessment (RIA) on the impact of changes
to administrative electoral procedures that the Electoral Administration Bill
will introduce.
| 31 March 2005 |
Civil legal aid: final combined regulatory and race impact assessment
In July 2004 the Legal Service Commission published a consultation paper detailing proposals to re-prioritise Community Legal Service funding (civil legal aid). The merits criteria, current financial eligibility tests, and matters of cost protection were also included. This document sets out the reasons for those reforms, the outcome of the consultation exercise, and details the final reforms package following consideration of the responses to the consultation.
| November 2004 |
Civil
Court Fees: final RIA 
[PDF 118 kb]
Inquiries
Bill: full RIA [PDF 191 kb]
| September 2004 |
Variation
of periodical payments and settlements in personal injury cases: final
regulatory impact assessment [PDF
59 kb]
This is the final Regulatory Impact Assessment on the impact of allowing
the courts to vary orders and agreements for periodical payments for
personal injury
damages in certain defined circumstances.
| July 2004 |
Proposals for Changes to
Civil Legal Aid Funding Code: partial RIA [PDF
139 kb] and accompanying Legal
Services Commission Consultation Paper
| June 2004 |
Mental Capacity Bill: Full RIA [PDF
191 kb]
| May 2004 |
Criminal Defence
Service Bill: partial RIA
Effective Inquiries Consultation Paper - Annex A: partial RIA
| April 2004 |
Variation of Periodical Payment Orders and Settlements in Personal Injury Cases: partial RIA
| March 2004 |
DCA proposals for changes to publicly funded Immigration and Asylum work
Constitutional Reform Bill
| February 2004 |
Statutory
Appeals and Statutory Review - proposals for rationalising procedures:
partial RIA
2003
| December 2003 |
Reform
of the Appeals System - RIA
| November 2003 |
Gender Recognition Bill: Final RIA
| July 2003 |
High Court Enforcement: The Enforcement Review - Writs of Fieri Facias and Possession: partial RIA
Courts Bill: proposals to improve fine enforcement RIA
2002
| November 2002 |
Courts Bill: power to order periodical payments for future loss - RIA
| October 2002 |
Commonhold: Proposals for regulations. Partial RIA.
| September 2002 |
Proposals to repeal and replace the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930. Partial RIA.
Proposals to reform the rule against excessive accumulations. Partial RIA.
| August 2002 |
Representation of the People (Amendment) Regulations
| March 2002 |
Damages Act 1996 - Analysis of the Impact of the Prescribed Discount Rate of 2.5%
Proposals for Increasing Bereavement Damages - RIA
2001
| October 2001 |
General
Pre-action Protocol - partial RIA
| August 2001 |
Payments
into court in satisfaction of claims - partial RIA
| July 2001 |
Towards Effective
Enforcement: A single piece of bailiff law and a regulatory structure
for enforcement - partial RIA
| June 2001 |
Commonhold and Leasehold
Reform Bill - final RIA
| June 2001 |
Land Registration Bill - final
RIA
| May 2001 |
Distress for
Rent - partial RIA [PDF 120kb,
8 pages]
| March 2001 |
Electronic
Conveyancing: draft order under section 8 of the Electronic Communications
Act 2000 - partial RIA
| February 2001 |
Representative
Claims: proposed new procedures - partial RIA
| January 2001 |
Civil Justice Reforms for
Housing and Land cases - final RIA
2000
| July 2000 |
Report
of the First Phase of the Enforcement Review - partial RIA
| June 2000 |
Small
Claims Appeals - partial RIA
| January 2000 |
Warrants
and Writs, Oral Examinations and Judgement Summons - partial RIA
1999
| October 1999 |
Mental Incapacity - final
RIA