Compliance Cost Assessments (Hansard, 28 July 1998)

§ Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52946]

§ Mr. Wilson
Details of compliance cost assessments published by The Scottish Office are contained in the six-monthly Command Papers of Compliance Cost Assessments.
Between 1 May 1997 and 30 June 1998, ten compliance cost assessments covering the following Scottish measures have been published: The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997; and The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(Scotland) Amendment Order 1997; The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997—amendments to Parts D and E of the Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990; The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997—amendments to Part J of the Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990; The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997—amendments to Part K of the Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990; Town and Country Planning (Use Classes)(Scotland) Order 1997; and Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 1997; The Surface Waters (Shellfish)(Classification)(Scotland) Direction 1998; The Scheme for Construction Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 1998; Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (Scotland) (Commencement No. 5) Order 1998; Construction Contracts (Scotland) Exclusion Order 1998; Surface Water (Dangerous Substances) (Classification) (Scotland) Regulations 1998.

§ Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997 in which there is a net reduction in compliance costs resulting from a legislative proposal. [52947]

§ Mr. Wilson
There is presently no requirement on Departments to carry out compliance cost assessments where legislative proposals are expected to be cost neutral or result in a saving to business. In the period 1 May 1997 to 30 May 1998, The Scottish Office has produced no compliance cost assessments which have resulted in a net reduction in compliance costs to business, although we have produced some which have indicated that the proposals are cost neutral.
For the detail, I refer the hon. Member to Cmnd 3938 and the individual compliance cost assessments held in the House Library.