HC Deb 26 July 1999 vol 336 cc121-2W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reductions were achieved in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department, its public bodies and by other departments for which Treasury Ministers are responsible for the last year for which data is available; what mechanisms exist for monitoring the post-implementation compliance costs of such regulation; and if he has established targets for reduction in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies and by other Departments for which Treasury Ministers are responsible. [92316]

Mrs. Roche

Details of regulations that imposed compliance costs on business are published in the Chancellor's Departments' regulatory impact assessments and laid in both Houses. A summary of all the regulatory impact assessments published by the Chancellor's

Mr. Rogers

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of VAT in each of the member states of the European Union for each of the main commodities and services. [93125]

Dawn Primarolo

The table details the standard and reduced rates of VAT in each member state and the main commodities and services subject to a reduced rate.

Departments and the other regulatory Departments in Whitehall is published every six months in a White Paper, and is available on a monthly basis on the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit's website.

There is no arbitrary target for reducing the compliance cost of regulation. However, all Departments are required to make an assessment of the risks, costs and benefits of any regulatory proposal that has an impact on businesses, charities and voluntary bodies before they decide to act. Without an assessment of this kind, there can be no collective agreement of a regulatory proposal.