Risk and Regulation Advisory Council

In 2008, it was announced that the Risk and Regulatory Advisory Council (RRAC) was set up in response to recommendations from (& as a replacement for) the Better Regulation Commission.

It is reported that the Risk and Regulatory Advisory Council is a 'body for common sense' which will run alongside a 'national campaign to emphasise the importance of self- reliance and a sense of adventure'. The aim?... 'It is intended to engage the public, and remind them that the Government is not responsible for every accident or piece of bad fortune that befalls its citizens. The team of seven will tackle policy areas where there are fears that the Government is in danger of overkill'.

The RRAC will report to Vicky Pryce, Chief Economic Adviser and Director General of Economics at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Joint Head of the Government Economic Service. The Government News Network reports that the RRAC's work 'will involve regulators, risk experts, Parliament, lobby groups, the media and the public; it will not solely focus on government but also work towards improving the quality of dialogue with the public on risk issues'.

People

In January 2008, the following are reported as RRAC members...

• Rick Haythornthwaite - Chairman. Haythornthwaite's biography report that he is also a partner at Star Capital Partners Limited, is Non Executive Chairman of the Board for Mastercard International, Chair or the Corporate Advisory Group for the Tate Gallery, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Almeida Theatre and a Board Member for the British Council. He was periously Chairman of the Better Regulation Commission, Commercial Director of Premier Oil, Chief Executive of Blue Circle plc and Chief Executive of Invensys plc. Haythornthwaite began his career with BP.

• Lynne Berry - Berry's biography describes her as Chief Executive of volunteering organisation WRVS and a Trustee for the National Centre for Social Research. Berry was previously Chief Executive of the General Social Care Council and the Equal Opportunities Commission and Executive Director of the Charity Commission.

• Philip Cullum - Cullum's biography describes him as Acting Chief Executive at the National Consumer Council, a member of the corporate responsibility advisory group for the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales and a member of the national development committee for autism charity, Treehouse. Cullum was previously Executive Director at Opinion Leader Research, Associate Partner at Accenture, and Head of Policy for Which?. He is also reported to have 'been a Board Member of a leading housing association and Chair of a not–for–profit organisation providing mental health services'.

• Tim Heymann (Kingston Hospital)
• Lord Jamie Lindsay - Lindsay's biobraphy reports that he is Chair of the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), a Board member for British Polythene Industries plc (BPI), Vice Chairman of SAC Ltd, a Board Member for the Scottish Resources Group Ltd, Chair of Elmwood College and Vice-President for the RSPB. He was previously Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and House of Lords spokesperson on DEFRA issues.

• Donald Macrae (Policy Reform Group)
• Sarah Veale (Trades Union Congress)