Drafting

UK Impact Assessment Template & Guidance

In preparing Impact Assessments (IAs), departments should ensure that they use the latest version of the IA Template which facilitates the publication and presentation of the IA on legislation.gov.uk. To download the most recent version of the IA Template and user manual, please use the following links:

Where the estimated impact of an item of legislation is more than +/- £5 million, an IA must be produced. To be accepted for registration or publication, an IA of this type must be drafted on the IA template and carry the name of the minister who has cleared it.

When the estimated impact is below +/- £5 million, an IA is not mandatory. If one is produced, it does not need to be drafted on the IA template or be cleared by a minister. To be accepted for registration or publication, an IA of this type must be certified by a named member of the SCS in the department.

Submitters of legislation should use the document type “Impact Assessment” for IAs that are drafted on the template, and the document type “Other Document” for IAs that are not drafted on the template.

All fields should be completed, even if this may be ‘N/A’ or ‘not applicable’ in some instances.

The Better Regulation Executive (BRE), within the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, are responsible for Impact Assessments for better regulation. Further guidance about IAs for Government policies, when to do an IA and how to do an IA is available at the following location:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/impact-assessments-guidance-for-government-departments

If you require further information in regard to the IA template or IA policy matters, please contact enquiries@beis.gov.uk.