Small Businesses (Hansard, 19 July 1995)

§ Mr. Howard

The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. The Government continue to help smaller companies by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislative, administrative and taxation burdens. They also provide direct assistance where appropriate. The White Paper announced in May 1995 outlines a programme of measures to assist the growth and competitiveness of the small firms sector.

Since July 1994, the Home Office has demonstrated its continued commitment to helping small businesses by deregulating across a wide range of areas affecting business. Steps taken have included: Shopping hours: restrictions on shopping hours have been relaxed through the implementation of the Sunday Trading Act 1994 and by removing restrictions on weekday shopping hours. Liquor licensing: accompanied children under 14 are now allowed into the bars of suitable licensed premises and we have introduced the Licensing (Sunday Hours) Bill to abolish the compulsory afternoon break in Sunday licensing hours. Gambling: provision has been made for Sunday racing with on-and off- course betting; some of the restrictions on betting offices have been removed; the maximum prize in the national bingo game has been increased from £75,000 to £250,000; and the first use has been made of the deregulation order-making power with a view to relaxing the rules on greyhound racing. Charities: close attention has been paid to the recommendations of the charities and voluntary organisations task force and to comments received during consultation on the draft regulations and other intended provisions, for example new controls on fund-raising—which was brought into force 1 March 1995—and charity accounting—intended to be brought into force 1 March 1996. Other areas: we have also removed the prohibition on admission charges to sporting events and activities on Sundays, and introduced a draft deregulation order permitting charging for public dancing on a Sunday.

The Government's White Paper on competitiveness in May 1995 set out some of our proposals for the further use of the deregulation order-making power and enforcement powers. The Government hope to be in a position soon to announce their views following the inter-departmental scrutiny of fire safety Legislation and enforcement.

Much of the deregulatory work undertaken in the past year in the Home Office has taken forward work which had been started in the previous 12 months. This had included the introduced of the Sunday Trading Bill, simplifying various aspects of the law on gambling, and 1454W the introduction of a range of measures in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill, including proposals for a system of children's certificates in licensed premises, changes in weekday shopping hours, changes to the law in charities and to enable betting on Sundays.

Other work undertaken by the Home Office which benefits small businesses includes crime prevention and assisting firms who wish to bid for Home Office business.

On crime prevention, we have continued to help small businesses to protect themselves against crime. In January this year, the Retail Action Group, the sub-group of the National Board for Crime Prevention—a non-departmental public body—published guides for shopkeepers on preventing robbery and burglary. Similar guides on preventing customer theft, violence to staff and external fraud will be published in due course. The Home Office crime prevention unit has published a research paper entitled "Crime on Industrial Estates", which incudes an assessment of the relevant security measures that are available.

On procurement, the Home Office gives encouragement and assistance to small businesses wherever possible. To that end, we provide potential suppliers to the Department with the booklet "Selling to the Home Office", which details the Department's purchasing needs and gives specific contact points for initial approaches. A central contact point is also available. The Home Office does not, however, hold detailed information on the volume of business placed with small firms.

On performance indicators, over 30 Home Office regulations which have an impact on business have been identified as possible candidates for amendment or repeal.