§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many responses he has received to the Cabinet Office news release on 28 December 1995—Office of Public Service 315/95—from(a) members of the public, (b) the self-employed, (c) small business men and (d) company directors; and which rules and regulations they each identified as suitable for deregulation. [18351]
§ Mr. FreemanI have received 60 responses to the news release and a further 420 responses from members of the Federation of Small Businesses in response to my invitation to write to me about regulations which are hampering their business. The 60 responses are mostly from small business people and members of the public. In the majority of cases the responses do not identify specific rules or regulations but the main issues raised were planning and building; metrication; health and safety: various licensing issues: and VAT. I shall reply to each letter individually.