Regulation of electricians: consultation analysis

3. Non-statutory approach

An alternative to legislation would be to pursue voluntary measures to raise standards, give greater protection to the public and reduce the level of poor electrical workmanship by a persistent rogue trader element.

Q1. Are there any changes that could be achieved by voluntary means?

A total of 60 respondents provided commentary in response to this question. The vast majority of respondents thought that voluntary measures would not be effective. Many felt that a voluntary system would not protect the public from dangerous workmanship.

A number of respondents suggested voluntary measures that could be carried out, such as a scheme for legitimate electricians to be registered, a clear definition of who can carry out electrical work, and the role of consumer education and awareness raising.

One organisation said that it fully supports the use of voluntary means to reduce the need for legislation, potential burdens on business, and costly administration and enforcement. Another organisation said that the current voluntary self-regulatory system, whilst not perfect, has key strengths for consumers such as recognising different routes into the profession and requiring an on-going assessment of the competence of electricians. Another organisation said that further voluntary measures could be pursued to improve electrical safety protections for consumers, such as a single register to provide consumers with a "one stop shop" to find qualified and competent electricians locally.

Q2. If voluntary measures are pursued and implemented effectively, would this significantly reduce the need for statutory measures?

A total of 60 respondents provided commentary in response to this question. The vast majority of respondents thought that voluntary measures would not reduce the need for statutory measures, with a common feeling being that voluntary measures do not work.

Many respondents made similar points to the ones they made for question 1. One respondent felt that voluntary measures would be a sensible first step for this sector, while another respondent believed that voluntary measures could potentially reduce the need for statutory measures in some instances but that there would be need for greater governance around this.