UK economic regulators : 1st report of session 2006-07, Vol. 1: Report

As a result of the privatisation of many nationalised industries in the 1980s, independent sector-specific regulatory offices were established to regulate these industries to promote genuine competition and ensure companies did not exploit monopoly powers.

Examples of these regulatory offices include: Oftel (telecommunications), Ofgas (gas supply), Offer (electricity), Ofwat (water services), and Postcomm (postal services).

Other regulatory offices with slightly different regulatory remits include: the Civil Aviation Authority, the Financial Services Authority, the Pensions Regulator, the Competition Commission, and the Office of Fair Trading."UK Economic Regulators (HL 189-I)" examines the statutory remits of the UK economic regulators, their working methods and working relationships, the value for money they provide and the extent to which the regulators have successfully promoted competition and de-regulated where possible, as well as considering whether they should be given an additional statutory duty to facilitate the competitiveness of UK firms.Overall, the Committee concludes that the legislation is working well but that a greater standardisation of remits should be introduced over time to ensure all regulators are statutorily required to follow best practice. In most sectors regulators have played an important role in helping to promote competition, with the exception of the water industry.

The report explores possible reasons for the lack of competition in this sector and urges Ofwat to take account of the general comments made by the Competition Appeal Tribunal on its access regime.

It highlights the need for greater parliamentary oversight over regulatory bodies and recommends that a Joint Committee of both Houses be set up or, failing this, that a sessional Select Committee be established in the House of Lords.This publication is accompanied by a CD-ROM, on the inside back cover, containing text of both volumes of the report.

A printed version of "UK Economic Regulators - Volume II: Evidence (HL 189-II)" (ISBN 0104011653) is available to buy separately.