§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers: and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19346]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy Department issued three compliance cost assessments in the first three months of this year, copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions and orders. [19360]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordTwenty-seven rules and regulations were repealed in the first three months of 1995. In the same period 67 rules and regulations were introduced, not including commencement orders, Orders in Council and instruments not subject to parliamentary procedure, of which:
- 18 revoked earlier instruments or substituted a more favourable regime for business;
- 2 implemented EU obligations;
- 2 updated fees and charges.
The remainder related to other issues such as local government and its reorganisation.
None of the rules and regulations introduced new regulatory regimes which had costs for business.