§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will estimate the cost of regulations(a) introduced and (b) repealed since May, 1997 to the (i) private and (ii) public sectors. [132773]
§ Mr. StringerSince 1998, the Government have required Departments to publish a thorough assessment of the impact of any regulatory proposal likely to impose a significant cost on business, charities or the voluntary sector. These assessments do not disaggregate the costs to the other groups affected by regulation, for example consumers and the public sector, nor are the cost savings of Deregulation Orders routinely collected. This information would be available only at disproportionate cost.
For the cost of regulation on business, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 450W.
§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many sunset clauses have been included in regulations since May 1997. [132693]
§ Mr. StringerThe Government always consider whether sunset clauses are appropriate when bringing forward legislation. Examples of sunset clauses that have been introduced since May 1997 include Part I of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the Football (Disorder) Bill. In addition, many road closure orders are limited by statute. However, information about sunset clauses is not routinely collected and would be available only at disproportionate cost.