Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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Next steps in tackling regulation reform
The next steps in tackling regulation reform and creating a dynamic business environment were today announced by John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
He said, "We are committed to reducing the burden on business of regulation. But we also want to make it easier for businesses to meet their legal obligations with clearer guidance and better communication.
"We have put regulatory reform at the heart of our efforts to create the right conditions for business success by putting the Better Regulation Executive in the new department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform."
The announcement contains a number of themes aimed at continuing progress towards turning ideas into action and setting the foundation for future success.
Transparency and prioritisation
* The Secretary of State for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Lord Drayson,
Minister of State for Business and Regulatory Reform, will work
with key members in both Houses to reduce current regulation and
scrutinise the flow of new regulation
* The Government
proposes strengthening the existing draft Regulators'
Compliance Code to introduce an explicit duty on regulators to
review the imposition and maintenance of unnecessary burdens on
business and act to reduce them
* Announce a review of the
case for extending the Regulators' Compliance Code to
regulators and inspectors of public services.
Targeted
Simplifications
* Publicise the work the Better Regulation
Executive (BRE) is doing with the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) on simplifying and reducing the costs associated with health
and safety policy for low-risk businesses
* Publicise the
launch by the HSE of risk assessments for convenience
stores/newsagents, general office cleaning contractors, and estate
agents. This work will include dry cleaners, hair dressers and
catering by November, and cover 70% of businesses by the end of
the year
* Announce a root and branch review to simplify
consumer policy, improve information for consumers and strengthen
redress in order to deliver simpler, cheaper and better
protections with reduced inspection and enforcement. This project
will report by spring 2008
* Work with stakeholders on the
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's
Simplification Plan including progress on dispute resolution
regulations and employment law guidance
Improved
Delivery
* Launch a more coherent and business-friendly
approach to handling and communicating regulatory change based
around the twice-yearly Common Commencement Dates, from October
2007
* Improve the government's performance in producing
good quality and timely guidance for regulation with an impact on
business, including developing a code of practice for guidance and
working to give greater prominence to guidance in the regulatory process.
Also published today are the following reports: National Audit Office - Reducing the cost of complying with regulations: The delivery of the Administrative Burdens Reduction Programme, 2007; Better Regulation Executive (BRE) - Regulation and Business Advice Services and the National Consumer Council and the BRE - interim report on the effectiveness of consumer information.
Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Business and Regulatory
Reform said,
"I welcome the publication of these reports
and am committed to driving forward the Government's agenda
to reduce the regulatory burdens on business."
Notes to editors
1. The following reports can be found on the Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/
2. Next Steps on Regulation Reform
3. Better Regulation Executive (BRE) - Regulation and Business Advice Services
4. National Consumer Council and the BRE - interim report on the effectiveness of consumer information.
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
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http://www.berr.gov.uk
