HL Deb 02 March 1999 vol 597 cc176-7WA
Lord Milner of Leeds

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have for the reform of Part I of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. [HL1320]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

The Government have reviewed the operation of the deregulation order-making power in Part I of the Act. We believe the safeguards in the process are proven, but that the legislative limitations on the application of this power restrict our ability to deal effectively with measures which are no longer needed or which impose a greater burden than necessary.

When parliamentary time allows, the Government intend to extend the scope of the deregulation order-making process, while maintaining the statutory protection against its misuse. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has launched today an extensive public consultation into the proposals and has placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the House.