§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding the impact of regulations on smaller businesses. [30164]
§ Nigel GriffithsI regularly discuss the impact of regulation with SMEs and their representative bodies, including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business.
506WDuring a visit to Brussels next month, I am hosting a small business:europe event to champion the cause of SMEs in the fight against red tape. In light of this, I have written to all Small Business Council members (who advise on small business policy) and other SME stakeholders seeking their assistance in compiling a strong case with which to press their case with Commissioners and MEPs.
Furthermore, the DTI review has strengthened the fight against red tape by giving regulatory responsibility to the chair of the Small Business Council.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the extra costs to pension funds of draft regulations on fixed term workers. [31838]
§ Alan JohnsonA regulatory impact assessment (RIA), detailing the costs and benefits of the draft Fixed Term Employees' (Prevention of less favourable treatment) Regulations, was published on 21 January this year and a copy is in the Library of the House. The RIA estimates the benefits to employees and costs to employers of preventing discrimination against fixed term employees as regards access to occupational pension schemes at £33–97 million, with some additional administration costs that it has not been possible to estimate. This figure does not take into account that, in some cases, employers will be able to objectively justify excluding fixed term employees from occupational pension schemes where they are unlikely to benefit.