Yabuki is pushing his quants to come up with a more accurate system for assessing the risk of one consumer compared with another.

FORBES: Global 2000

The idea, which follows a review of existing teaching standards by Sally Coates, principal of Burlington Danes Academy in London, includes scrapping the current system for assessing experienced teachers.

BBC: More children to receive pupil premium, minister says

Dr Fraser and the other specialists called for a standardised guidance system on assessing high risk medical devices, the introduction of rules for newer devices such as electronic medical records that are not currently scrutinised, more consistent advice on clinical testing and more information on standards and study results.

FORBES: The Yin And Yang Of Medical Device Regulation

Local councils agree that the existing system for assessing would-be parents is slow and bureaucratic - but say it is vital that it remains as rigorous as possible - because the children involved are among the most vulnerable in society and a breakdown in an adoption could be catastrophic for them.

BBC: Adoptive parent checks: Overhaul planned in England

The new system - called the Common Assessment Framework (Caf) - requires schools to fill out a form assessing the child's situation to refer them to social services or other agencies.

BBC: Schools 'losing out' in shake up