Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2018
Regulation as a legal form of social engineering has been subjected to much analysis in the last decade or so. The importance of the topic to contemporary law cannot be overstated: on the one hand, it has been the avowed aim of government to ‘deregulate’ industry; on the other hand, and paradoxically, both the concomitant policy of privatisation and the evolution towards a Single European Market have increased the need for regulation in appropriate areas. The efforts to explore the strengths and weaknesses of different regulatory forms have brought together scholars from a wide range of disciplines. Administrative lawyers have been concerned with how the power of decision-making is allocated between institutions and the general problems of accountability and control of discretion to which this gives rise. Socio-legal researchers have critically examined the practices of regulatory agencies as regards rule formulation and enforcement.
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88. Eg the Statute of Artificers contained reservations for the town of Godalming and for the company of worstedmakers in Norwich: 5 Eliz c 4, ClS XXVII and XXXVI (1563).
89. 5 & 6 Ed VI, c 14, cl VII (1551).
90. Ibid, licensing of badgers, kidders, laders and carriers.
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93. 18 Chas 11, c 4 (1667).
94. Eg 4 Hen VII, c 19 (1489); 5 & 6 Ed VI, c 5 (1552); 39 Eliz, c 2 (1597).
95. See, especially 5 & 6 Ed VI, c 6 (1552).
96. Supra, n 54 and associated text.
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102. Eg 1 & 2 Phil & Mary, c 5 (1555).
103. 5 & 6 Ed VI, c 6 (1552).
104. Ibid, cl VI.
105. 5 Eliz, c 7 (1562).
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107. 20 Chas 11, c 7 (1668).
108. Supra, n 65 and associated text.
109. See eg 5 & 6 Ed VI, c 6, CI XXXI: a piece of cloth found to be in contravention of the regulations was to be cut into three pieces, one being forfeit to the Crown, one to the person making the presentment, and one to the mayor, bailiff or justice of the peace receiving the presentment.
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113. Although their importance waned in the eighteenth century the practice was not rendered illegal until the Common Informers Act 1951.
114. 7 Co Rep 36.
115. 21 Jas I, c 4.
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