Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) is responsible for creating the conditions for business success, developing deeper and more effective engagement with business, and with the ability to promote the competitiveness agenda across critical areas of Government policy.

BERR brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for enterprise, business relations, regional development, fair markets and energy policy, with the Better Regulation Executive (BRE), previously part of the Cabinet Office.

Trade promotion overseas and encouraging inward investment (UK Trade & Investment) will be a joint responsibility of the BERR and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Department is headed by John Hutton, the first Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, who was previously Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He will provide a strong voice for business and regulatory reform at Cabinet.

BERR will provide support to the new Business Council for Britain. The Council, made up of senior business leaders, will assist the Government in putting in place the right strategy to promote the long-term health of the UK economy.

BERR will also work closely with the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). DIUS will be responsible for driving forward the Government's long-term vision to make Britain one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation, and to deliver the ambition of a world class skills base.

From January 2008, the department also hosts the newly founded Risk and Regulation Advisory Council (RRAC). This body will examine the process of policy-making to help improve regulatory decision-making at source and will look at such topics as food and superbug scares, obesity and regional regeneration failures.

Here is a list of ministers who work for the department.

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Secretary of State

The Rt Hon John Hutton

Holds overall responsibility for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and its policies

Minister of State

Sir Digby Jones (jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Responsibilities:

• UK Trade & Investment

Minister of State

Pat McFadden MP

Responsibilities:

• Employment Relations
• ACAS
• Postal policy and Shareholder Executive: Royal Mail and Post Office
• Skills
• Insolvency Service (including companies investigations)

Minister of State

Malcolm Wicks MP

• Energy policy
• Sustainability & the environment
• Security of energy supply
• Fuel poverty
• Nuclear security
• WEEE Directive
• Coal Health Claims Unit
• Asbestos claims
• Shareholder Executive: Energy portfolio
• Export Controls
• ECGD

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Gareth Thomas MP (jointly with the Department for International Development)

Responsibilities:

• Trade policy
• EU competitiveness and the Single Market
• Services Directive
• Consumer Affairs
• Competition Issues

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Baroness Vadera

Baroness Vadera has been appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for competitiveness, Better Regulation, and the Business Council for Britain.

Contact department

Tel: 020 7215 5000

or 020 7215 6740 (Minicom)

Fax: 020 7215 0105

email: dti.enquiries@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Write to the department:

Ministerial Correspondence Unit
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET

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