Part 3: Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act
Part 2 of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 (c.13) (RESA) established the Primary Authority scheme. Under this scheme a local authority may be nominated by the Secretary of State to act as a primary authority for a person carrying out a regulated activity in more than one local authority area. A local authority may also be nominated to act as a primary authority for a group of persons who carry out the same regulated activity, in a similar way, in more than one local authority area, e.g. trade associations. The primary authority provides advice and guidance on regulatory compliance to that person, as well as advice and guidance to local authorities with the same regulatory functions as to how they should exercise those functions in relation to the person. The primary authority may stop another local authority from taking enforcement action against that person where it would be inconsistent with the advice and guidance the primary authority has given.
	The measures in this Act extend the application of the Primary Authority scheme and enable the Secretary of State to make legislation that will bring regulators other than local authorities within the scope of the scheme.
	This Part substitutes Part 2 of RESA and extends to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In relation to Scotland, Part 2 of RESA will continue to apply only to reserved matters. In relation to Northern Ireland, it will continue to apply only to matters that are not transferred.