§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they respond to recent criticisms from the British Chambers of Commerce that over-regulation is stifling the development and growth of e-commerce. [HL1019]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The UK Online Annual Report (http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/) sets out the Government's commitment to developing an effective, light-touch regulatory framework for e-commerce, and to removing all remaining regulatory and legal barriers to electronic working on the UK. The report says that 81 per cent of British businesses are already on-line, on a par with the US. A recent report on the regulatory framework for e-commerce by the independent Better Regulation Task Force welcomed the Government's light-touch approach (http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/TaskForce/Index.htm). Another independent report, from Arthur Anderson and GrowthPlus, found that the UK has the best business environment in Europe (http://www.notjustpeanuts.com/fulrep.htm).