§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister which(a) employer, (b) employee and (c) independent organisations the deregulation unit consults before proposing deregulatory measures. [31994]
§ Mr. FreemanDeregulatory measures are proposed by the Government Department responsible for the relevant legislation and not by the deregulation unit. The unit is responsible for co-ordinating the deregulation initiative.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations the deregulation unit has received that the six-pack health and safety regulation has put businesses into liquidation. [32009]
§ Mr. FreemanI have received no representations specifically identifying the implementation of the "six-pack" of EC health and safety directives as the cause of a firm going out of business. However, surveys such as that carried out by the British chambers of commerce in September 1995 have consistently identified health and safety legislation as one of the main burdens on business, particularly small business. Both the 1994 Sainsbury task force's report and the Health and Safety Commission's own 1994 review of regulation identified the "six-pack" as an area of concern and confusion for business.
The Government fully support the Health and Safety Commission's programme to implement its own review of regulation, carried out in 1994. The "six-pack" of EC directives is being evaluated as part of that programme.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is the current staffing level of the deregulation unit. [31987]
§ Mr. FreemanThe staffing level for the deregulation unit for 1996–97 is 44.2 posts.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what are the current annual running costs of the deregulation unit, including(a) staff costs, (b) administration costs and (c) overheads. [31995]
The Deputy Prime MinisterThe annual running costs for the deregulation unit for 1996–97 are as follows: 189W
£ thousand Staff costs 1,313 General administrative expenditure 717 Overheads (including common services on a per capita share and accommodation and telecommunications costs) 629 Total 2,659 Capital 10 Total 2,669