In future, colleges could face fixed penalty notices if they break safety and other types of regulation. The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill, published last week and currently out for consultation, could lead to new powers for regulators such as the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities and even the Information Commissioner.
The government says the Bill will provide a new expanded framework for regulatory sanctions. It will give Ministers authority to confer on specified regulators, new civil sanctioning powers including the use of fixed monetary penalties. The aim, says the government, is to create a system of sanctions that is both responsive and proportionate.
Further details can be found at the cabinet office website.
