HC Deb 11 December 1995 vol 268 cc486-7W
15. Mr. Steen

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the deregulation initiative as it affects(a) legislation in the United Kingdom and (b) directives from Europe. [3291]

Mr. Freeman

Recent progress on deregulation includes the passing into law of the first two deregulation orders under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. Many other deregulatory changes are being made by secondary legislation and administrative action. I have been pressing the case for deregulation in the European Community. There has been a significant decline in the number of new Commission proposals for legislation in 1996. I am urging the Commission to make a commitment at the forthcoming European Council to improve the quality of future legislation and review existing European legislation.

18. Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what analysis he has made of the likely effects of the Government's campaign of deregulation on United Kingdom competitiveness. [3305]

Mr. Freeman

As we made clear in our second White Paper on competitiveness, deregulation is central to improving United Kingdom competitiveness. Unnecessary requirements stand in the way of market entry, innovation, investment and jobs. We have a programme for repealing or amending well over 1,000 regulations and are on target to have dealt with over 500 by the end of the year. We are also taking action to ensure that new regulations are introduced only where really justified and are enforced in a business-friendly way.

22. Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to involve small firms in his campaign to reduce the burden of regulation. [3307]

Mr. Freeman

I have recently met a number of small firms representative bodies about deregulation. The deregulation task force includes a number of members drawn from the small firms sector. Small firms must also now be consulted as part of the compliance cost assessment procedure on new regulatory proposals to make sure they will not be disproportionately affected. The Prime Minister recently launched a series of seminars for small firms which is providing another channel for them to make their views known to us. I am also keen to hear direct from small firms about the problems they are facing and am issuing them an invitation to write to me.

25. Mr. Pike

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's policy is on employee protection matters in co-ordinating the Government's deregulation policy. [3299]

Mr. Freeman

Deregulation is aimed at achieving better regulation and is not about removing necessary protection, whether for employees, or, for example, consumers or the enviornment. For deregulation orders made under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act, the responsible Minister must give details of how any necessary protection under existing legislation will be maintained.

26. Mr. Hawkins

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contacts he has had with industry about the Government's campaign on deregulation. [3309]

Mr. Freeman

The Government are advised by the deregulation task force about businesses priorities for deregulation and I have regular contact with the chairman, Francis Maude. The task force published its first report in September and of 52 recommendations the Government accepted 46 in whole or in part. In addition, I discuss deregulation with various representative bodies of industry and individual industrialists from time to time.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to discuss the Molitor report on deregulation with the European Commission. [3304]

Mr. Freeman

I discussed the Molitor report and the United Kingdom's objectives for European deregulation with the Commission on Monday 11 September and Thursday 23 November. I expect to continue these discussions next year.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many regulations which are now identified as suitable for repeal under the deregulation initiative were brought in by the Ministry of Defence between 1983 and 1986, the Department of the Environment between 1990 and 1992 and the Department for Trade and Industry between 1992 and 5 July 1995. [3781]

Mr. Freeman

The number of regulations for the dates in question are as follows:

  • Ministry of Defence: 0
  • Department of the Enviornment: 0
  • Department of Trade and Industry: 3.