§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the work of the Ministers for Regulatory Reform. [117774]
§ Mr. AlexanderRegulatory Reform Ministers are responsible to the Prime Minister for championing better regulation. They are charged with removing any regulations, which are outdated or burdensome and ensuring that the new regulations are necessary and if so, are introduced in a light touch way.
Regulatory Reform Ministers ensure policy officials deliver better regulation and make full use of regulatory reform tools, such as carrying out regulatory impact assessments on policy proposals and removing outdated and burdensome legislation by Regulatory Reform Order.
These Ministers also support their Departments in completing the proposals outlined in the Government's regulatory reform action plan that was published in February 2002. To date they have achieved good progress in this area and we are on track to deliver this plan.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the meetings of the Ministers for Regulatory Reform since establishment; and, for each meeting, if he will list(a) Ministers attending and (b) the person in the chair. [117775]
§ Mr. AlexanderSince the establishment of Regulatory Reform Ministers, they have met on 30 March 2000, 17 July 2001, 4 February 2002 and 2 December 2002. The Minister for the Cabinet Office chairs these meetings. Dr. Marjorie Mowlam chaired the first meeting on 30 March 2000 and Lord Macdonald chaired subsequent meetings. The majority of Regulatory Reform Ministers attended these meetings.