§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1996; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to determine the advantages and disadvantages of each repeal. [1403]
§ Mr. HowardI do not propose to repeal any regulations by the end of 1996, but on present plans the Licensing Act 1964 will be amended by the end of this year. Amendments to a number of other Acts should be made in the new year.
The aim of each amendment will be to reduce rather than increase compliance costs, so a compliance cost assessment is not required. We do, however, seek to estimate approximate savings wherever possible. The cost of undertaking a CCA varies from case to case, but it is generally modest. Because part of the cost falls on the businesses consulted, a full CCA would be inappropriate for measures designed to reduce business burdens.