§ Mr. Prescottasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made on implementing the White Paper "Building Businesses … Not Barriers" (Cmnd. 9794); and what plans he has to achieve the objectives set out in the White Paper.
§ Mr. TrippierWe have made considerable progress in carrying out the proposals to reduce administrative burdens on businesses which were set out in the White Paper " Building Businesses … Not Barriers", which represent a balanced programme of action to remove unnecessary obstacles to enterprise and job creation while retaining essential protection.
136WThe White Paper included proposals for a number of reviews of present regulations and consultation on new measures which are still in progress; other items await suitable legislative opportunities.
We have given particular emphasis to improving communications between Government and business through better access to information and improving the quality of publications. The mechanisms for evaluating regulatory proposals are working well. The enterprise and deregulation unit has so far received more than 150 preliminary compliance cost assessments from different Departments which show the implications of new regulatory proposals. The unit is also involved in a wide range of current issues on enterprise and employment. Progress has been made in the European Community with the setting up of a small and medium-sized enterprise task force and a system of assessing the impact of Commission proposals. By these means we hope to ensure both better regulation of business and better enforcement of regulations.
As indicated at paragraph 11.5 of the White Paper, the Government will report further on progress during 1987.