§ Mr. PriskTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations her Department has proposed to Parliament since June; what regulatory impact assessments have been made for those regulations her Department have implemented since June; and what plans her Department has to reduce the number of regulations affecting small businesses. [13631]
§ Ms HewittThe Department has proposed 36 regulations to Parliament since June. Of these regulations, more than two thirds were public telecommunications operator licences, amended or simplified regulations or preserved commercial electricity supply agreements.
Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) have to be produced for all new regulations in which the costs and benefits have to be assessed, particularly for small firms. The Department's policy is to "think small first" and the Small Business Service has to be consulted on all RIAs to ensure that the impact on small firms is not disproportionate. The Department is drawing up a Regulatory Reform Action Plan that the Government will publish.