Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether businesses will be charged for the cost of the creation of new regulatory agencies in the UK after the UK has left the EU.

The Government is undertaking a wide range of preparatory work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. This includes looking at functions presently undertaken by EU agencies.

The Government’s priority is to have effective regulatory systems. Should an EU regulatory function be repatriated then in most cases this will be undertaken by an existing, rather than a new, public body.

Prior to any decisions on establishing a new public body, the Government will always examine how it might be funded in a way that meets the standards set out in ‘Managing Public Money’ for financial transparency, accountability and oversight as well as value for money for the taxpayer. Funding is considered on a case by case basis and fees and charges can only be levied where Parliament has agreed legislation permitting the funding of new bodies in this way.

We will continue to engage with businesses as we develop our approach.