This Order is made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office (“the Minister”) in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1 of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001(1).

For the purposes of section 3(1) of that Act, the Secretary of State is of the opinion that this Order does not –

(a)remove any necessary protection, or

(b)prevent any person from continuing to exercise any right or freedom which he might reasonably expect to continue to exercise.

For the purposes of section 3(2) of that Act, the Secretary of State is of the opinion, in relation to any burden created by this Order, that —

(a)the provisions of this Order, taken as a whole, strike a fair balance between the public interest and the interests of the persons affected by the burden, and

(b)the extent to which this Order removes or reduces one or more burdens, or has other beneficial effects for persons affected by the burdens imposed by the existing law, makes it desirable for the Order to be made.

The Secretary of State has consulted in accordance with section 5(1) of that Act.

The Secretary of State laid a document before Parliament containing his proposals for this Order in accordance with section 6(1) of that Act.

In accordance with section 8(4) of that Act the Secretary of State has had regard to the representations made during the period for Parliamentary consideration and in particular to the Fifth Report of Session 2006-07 of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee of the House of Lords(2) and to the Second Report of Session 2006-07 of the Regulatory Reform Committee of the House of Commons(3).

The Secretary of State has laid a draft of this Order before Parliament with a statement as required by section 8(5) of that Act.

The draft has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.