National Measurement and Regulation Office

Matt Hancock Excerpts

Wednesday 25th March 2015 Written Statements

[The Minister for Business and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock)]

I have tasked the National Measurement and Regulation Office (NMRO) to simplify technical regulation for the benefit of British business.

I have agreed with the NMRO that their objectives for 2015-2016 will be to:

simplify the legislative framework for weights and measures and hallmarking to support well-functioning competitive markets, and use our strong international influence to shape new and existing EU legislation to ensure that burdens on UK business are minimised or eliminated and UK weights and measures protected;

provide the assurance businesses need to understand and apply legislative requirements and give them confidence that their investments in research and development are protected against unfair competition;

enforce technical regulations intelligently using the regulators’ code to achieve better outcomes for British businesses;

provide a legal metrology infrastructure to underpin trade measurement and confidence in the market, and certification services to enable businesses to export their products globally.

The performance targets I have set the agency are as follows:

identify an appropriate methodology to measure the benefit to UK business from simplifying technical regulation including guidance and enforcement, and achieve an upwards trend in benefit over the next three years;

generate a positive 3:1 net contribution to consumers and the environment as well as the low carbon economy, through enforcement team activities;

deliver enforcement services to meet the expectations of Government clients;

implement the new legal framework for EU measuring instruments legislation by the target date of April 2016;

support stakeholders by ensuring at least 95% of gas and electricity metering enquiries are answered within three business days of receipt of all necessary documentation;

achieve a satisfaction rating among certification service customers of at least 95% of customers scoring satisfied or above, with at least 60% scoring ‘very satisfied’;

achieve a 5% increase in income from the 2014-15 financial year;

reduce the per capita overhead rate from 2014-15;

ensure the smooth transition of finances and records of NMS activities from NMRO to BIS by the end of December 2015.

[HCWS475]