§ Mr. SproatTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what financial provisions, and how much, she has made within her Department in order to look at the potential for deregulation of each of the regulatory measures for which she has responsibility.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Employment Department has two central departmental deregulation units—DDUs—one for the Health and Safety Executive and one which deals with the rest of the Department. Staff costs for the DDUs, including economic support is estimated at £57,245.
In addition, all staff in the Department are fully aware of the need to ensure that regulations should not impose unnecessary and costly burdens on businesses, causing damage to competitiveness and job prospects. Ensuring that proposals for new regulations are assessed thoroughly for the costs they will impose on businesses and reviewing existing regulations are an everyday part of the activities of policy sections.