Deregulation (Hansard, 26 November 1992)

§ Mr. Sproat
To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Minister in his Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of his Department.

§ Mr. Neil Hamilton
I am the Minister responsible for deregulation within this Department. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is the Cabinet Minister with overall responsibility for the Government's deregulation initiative.

§ Mr. Sproat
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken since 9 April to encourage other Government departments to examine the possibility of deregulation or simplification of matters for which they have responsibility; what the results of these steps has been; what requirement he has now laid, or is about to lay, on Departments to discover and publish the cost of any new and old regulations for which they are responsible; what plans he has to increase the deregulatory momentum of the Government; how he proposes to monitor these matters; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Neil Hamilton
[holding answer 23 November 1992]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set in course a number of initiatives to increase and monitor the momentum of the Government's deregulation initiative. In this he has the full support of the Prime Minister.
All Departments have been asked to identify primary and secondary legislation and forms affecting business. Over 6,000 pieces of legislation and over 2,500 forms have been identified so far.
Some studies of individual businesses are currently underway to assess the cumulative burdens on business. The results of these two exercises will be used by Departments to draw up a prioritised programme of review.
On 30 June, I announced nine pilot local authority/ business partnerships, a major initiative to improve the way local authorities apply regulations to business.
All Departments are required to conduct a compliance cost assessment on regulatory proposals which would impact on business. When these are published, copies will be placed in the Library of the House.