§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to help small firms prepare for new legislation proposals. [140783]
§ Mr. ByersThe Small Business Service has today issued guidance to all departments on implementation periods for new legislation. This sets out a general requirement, with some necessary exceptions, that guidance on new legislation likely to impact on business should be issued at least 12 weeks before the new legislation comes into force. This implements a recommendation by the Better Regulation Task Force and will give businesses, particularly small firms, time to prepare for the implementation of new legislation. The new procedures take effect from 1 January 2001. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the House Libraries and on the Small Business Service's website at www.businessadviceonline.org/content/ pdf/implementationguidlines.pdf.
I believe the guidance, together with the Code of Practice on Written Consultations being published today by the Cabinet Office, is a real advance in giving business more time to feed in views and prepare for new legislation.