Types of assessment which may be required under the Better Regulation Framework
Updated 4 March 2025
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The type of assessment you must complete depends on the scale and potential impact of the regulatory proposal. For advice on assessments:
- read the Better Regulation Framework guidance
- contact your department’s Better Regulation Unit or Chief Analyst’s office
1. Options assessments
These identify, evaluate and compare different potential solutions to a policy problem. The goal is to select the most effective, efficient and proportionate option and consider a range of alternatives.
2. Equality impact assessments
These assess the potential impact of a regulation on different groups, including people with protected characteristics.
3. Environmental impact assessments
These assess the potential environmental impact of regulation.
4. Regulatory impact assessments
Also known as a final impact assessment, these assess the costs, benefits, and distributional effects of a proposal and are required for regulations with significant impact.