§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many European regulations and directives affecting businesses were implemented in the last calendar year; and what assessment she has made of what the total cost of their implementation was on business. [45317]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 26 March 2002]:The Department was responsible for 92 regulations introduced in the calendar year from 1 March 2001. Of these regulations 71 imposed negligible or no costs on business and 11 have saved costs.
Records relating to the origin of regulations are not held centrally. The information requested could be obtained and collated only at disproportionate cost.
All Government Departments and agencies are required to produce regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) for proposed regulations that could impact on business, charities or the voluntary sector. This is the case for legislation emanating from Europe. Copies of all RIAs are published and are available from the Libraries of the House.