HC Deb 19 September 2002 vol 390 cc169-70W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of(a) businesses and (b) employees would be excluded if those firms with up to 10 employees were exempted from regulation; and if she will make a statement. [73139]

Nigel Griffiths

Data are available for businesses with 0–9 employees at the start of 2000. The figures are for all types of regulations, including fire.

Contribution of micro sized (0–9 employees) businesses(per cent., 2000) Businesses Employees

Contribution of micro sized (0-9 employees) businesses (per cent., 2000) Businesses Employees
95.0 17.3

Source

Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)

Statistics for the United Kingdom 2000,

Small Business Service.

Regulations are drawn up to address specific issues. There are already a number of regulations that exempt small companies. Such exclusions are looked at on a case by case basis, and not necessarily by size of company but also turnover and other measures.

Blanket exclusions can cause their own problems when companies exceed the threshold they are expected to comply with all regulations at once.

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