§ 8. Mr. Michael Jack (Fylde)On which regulations he has recently received representations from the Federation of Small Businesses, the Engineering Employers Federation and the Confederation of British Industry. [75364]
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office (Dr. Jack Cunningham)The better regulation task force, supported by officials in the better regulation unit of the Cabinet Office, has received representations from those organisations in the course of the reviews on long-term care, enforcement and consumer affairs.
§ Mr. JackI am sorry that the unit has not received a representation from the Engineering Employers Federation about the difficulty that engineers are having in dealing with the implementation regulations for the wholly unnecessary and unwanted working time directive. The Minister may be aware that a 200-page document has had to be published to help them with that task, but engineers in Lancashire are still struggling with the complexities. I would be grateful for an assurance that he will dispatch an official from the better regulation task force to Lancashire straight away, to help the engineers with the task that the Government have imposed on them.
§ Dr. CunninghamThe right hon. Gentleman is slightly confused: the better regulation task force is independent of the Government, and it is not for me to dispatch its staff anywhere. I can more than meet his request, however, because—although I am sure that they have had consultations with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry—if members of the Engineering Employers Federation would like to talk to me about the matter, I would be happy to see them.