Dear Editor, I am disappointed to read that Russell Luckock believes ‘red tape continues to increase year on year’ (Post, October 4).
Actually, the Government has cut the costs of domestic regulation by £850 million so far, thanks to our One-in, One out rule.
Coupled to that, I have committed to abolishing or substantially reducing at around half of the 6,500 regulations that are part of the Red Tape Challenge. We are also running the Focus on Enforcement campaign to review how the enforcement of those regulations we need to keep, can be improved.
I know that health and safety rules are a big concern for firms, so we have taken steps to bring some common sense back into the system.
In the coming months, there will be new rules to exempt hundreds of thousands of low-risk businesses from burdensome, regular inspections. We are also ending the perverse situation where a business can be liable for damages even when they have not acted negligently.
It’s true that around half of the regulations that impact on British businesses originate from Brussels, but it’s not true to say we’re doing nothing about it. We have already stopped the so called ‘gold plating’ to which Mr Luckock refers, and I went to Brussels on October 4 to pressure the European authorities into a new programme to cut the red tape emanating from Brussels. I know that there is more to do, but we are turning this proverbial oil tanker around.
More and more business people are recognising the Government’s achievements in cutting the burden of excessive bureaucracy, including business groups like the Institute of Directors and British Chambers of Commerce.
I intend to take up Mr Luckock’s invitation to visit manufacturers in the West Midlands.
These firms are essential to the growth that we’re all working to achieve, and I always want to hear the concerns of different businesses; it’s one of the most important parts of my job. I would also urge anyone in business to visit the Red Tape Challenge and Focus on Enforcement websites – to make sure their thoughts on regulation and enforcement are heard.
Michael Fallon
Minister for Business and Enterprise
