§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Paymaster General how many of the proposals listed in "Burdens on Business" he has implemented since the release of the White Paper; and what steps he has taken to implement these proposals.
§ Mr. TrippierThe White Paper "Lifting the Burden" (Cmnd. 9571) published in July records progress made in implementing many of the proposals set out in "Burdens of Business", as well as identifying further areas for action, these include establishing an enterprise and deregulation unit reporting to my right hon. and noble Friend, and procedures for monitoring the impact of new regulations on business.
Among other steps taken to reduce the burdens on business identified in the earlier report are the increase in employers' qualifying periods in unfair dismissal cases, the introduction of simplified planning zones and new building regulations, and proposals for amending legislation on wages councils and women's hours of work.
the Government intend to publish a White Paper reporting further progress on deregulation next spring.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the number of jobs created as a result of progress in implementation of the "Burdens on Business" proposals.
§ Mr. TrippierThe burdens on business report and the subsequent White Paper "Lifting the Burden" (Cmnd. 9571) contained a wide range of proposals designed to remove unnecessary constraints on businesses and reduce the costs to business of complying with Government regulations. As the White Paper indicated, it is not possible to prove a direct causal relationship between deregulation and job creation, and no reliable estimate can 581W therefore be given of the effect on jobs of progress to date. The available evidence suggests however that there is a link between deregulation and jobs through stimulating economic activity.