§ 13. Mr. FlynnTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new proposals he has to reduce harmful effects arising from deregulation. [36793]
§ Mr. FreemanI am satisfied that deregulation does not diminish necessary protection whether for consumers, employees, or the environment. The Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 includes safeguards to ensure that any necessary protection under existing legislation is maintained.
§ 25. Mr. SteenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the work undertaken by(a) the deregulation task force and (b) the deregulation unit in the last 12 months; and what has been the cost to the public purse of each. [36806]
§ Mr. FreemanThe deregulation task force's first report recorded its work up to September 1995 and its programme for the following 12 months. A copy is available in the House Library. The work of the deregulation unit is shown in the Cabinet Office departmental report published as Cm 3220 in March 1996. Direct expenditure, excluding overheads, for the deregulation task force and the deregulation unit for 1995–96 was £14,700 and £1,480,600 respectively.