§ 14. Sir Michael GryllsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for there to be an annual report to Parliament on the work of the deregulation unit.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonProgress reports to Parliament are made regularly under the deregulation initiative. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reported to Parliament on 4 February, when he outlined the results of the seminar of Cabinet Ministers and senior civil servants that gave rise to the appointment of seven business task forces, to involve the private sector in furthering progress with the deregulation initiative.
§ Sir Michael GryllsWhile I thank my hon. Friend for that answer and acknowledge that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given his support to the campaign, I remind my hon. Friend the Minister of the value of a regular report to Parliament and a debate. On the Government Benches, an army of my right hon. and hon. Friends are behind my hon. Friend the Minister and want him to succeed with his good work. I ask him not to turn his face entirely away from a formal report—almost like a Budget—that could be debated in the House over two days. That would help my hon. Friend in his work and would have the support of us all.
§ Mr. HamiltonI am delighted to account to Parliament as often as possible on my responsibilities, and I thank my hon. Friend for the help that he gives me in achieving success. He is joined by many others on these Benches—particularly my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich (Mr. Sproat), who was this week elected chairman of the deregulation sub-committee of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, which itself is chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Sir M. Grylls). This side of the House is serious about deregulation because we know that it will bring more jobs and increased prosperity for all our people.