REC 2.14 Rules and consultation

In determining whether a UK recognised body has appropriate procedures for it to make rules, for keeping its rules under review and for amending them, the FSA may have regard to:

1. (1)

   the arrangements made for taking decisions about making and amending rules in the UK recognised body, including the level at which the decisions are taken and any provision for the delegation of decisions by the governing body;

2. (2)

   the arrangements made for determining whether or not it is appropriate to consult members or other users of the UK recognised body's facilities;

3. (3)

   the procedures for consulting members and other users of its facilities in appropriate cases; and

4. (4)

   the arrangements for notifying members (and other appropriate persons) of rule changes.

1. (1)

   In determining whether a UK recognised body's procedures include procedures for consulting users of its facilities in appropriate cases, the FSA may have regard to whether those procedures include provision for consulting users of those facilities before changes are made to any rules relating to its regulatory functions.

2. (2)

   In the FSA's view, a UK recognised body's procedures may not need to contain provision for consulting users of its facilities before making minor changes to any rules of an administrative or commercial character.

1. (1)

   In determining whether a UK recognised body's procedures for consulting members and other users of its facilities are appropriate, the FSA may have regard to the range of persons to be consulted by the UK recognised body under those procedures.

2. (2)

   In the FSA's view, consultation with a smaller range of persons may be appropriate where limited, technical changes to a UK recognised body's rules are proposed.

3. (3)

   In the FSA's view, a UK recognised body's procedures may include provision to restrict consultation where it is essential to make a change to the rules without delay in order to ensure continued compliance with the recognition requirements or other obligations under the Act.

In determining whether a UK recognised body's procedures for consulting members and other users of its facilities are appropriate, the FSA may have regard to the extent to which the procedures include:

1. (1)

   informal discussions at an early stage with users of its facilities or appropriate representative bodies;

2. (2)

   publication to users of its facilities of a formal consultation paper which includes clearly expressed reasons for the proposed changes and an appropriately detailed assessment of the likely costs and benefits;

3. (3)

   adequate time for users of its facilities to respond to the consultation paper and for the UK recognised body to take their responses properly into account;

4. (4)

   adequate arrangements for making responses to consultation available for inspection by users of its facilities, unless the respondent requests otherwise;

5. (5)

   adequate arrangements for ensuring that the UK recognised body has proper regard to the representations received; and

6. (6)

   publication, no later than the publication of the amended rules, of a reasoned account of the UK recognised body's decision to amend its rules.