Advice to business
The provision of robust, bespoke advice to the business - on which it can rely - is the core feature of Primary Authority. It can concern any matters relating to compliance in the legislative areas covered by the partnership. Over time, the accumulated body of expert advice gives the primary authority the means to prevent inconsistent enforcement action against the business. It also serves to streamline local regulation.
Some businesses will want help to identify or clarify their legal requirements, while others will seek assurance that their understanding of the rules is correct, or that their own compliance systems are rigorous and acceptable. Primary Authority Advice can meet either need. As a result, the business can invest with confidence, safe in the knowledge that it no longer has to deal with different interpretations of the law, or alternative approaches to enforcement.
Primary Authority Advice must be supplied as specified in the partnership agreement and recorded in a manner that facilitates its future retrieval. This distinguishes it from the ongoing dialogue between the primary authority and business.
"Why wouldn't businesses want a Primary Authority? After all, you succeed with regulators by working with rather than against them."
B&Q Safety Advisor Gary Howells - 04/01/2010
