27.01.14
‘Ridiculous’ regulations to be cut – Cameron
A hundred building regulations will be cut down to fewer than ten, the Prime Minister is to announce.
In a speech to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), he will set out action on red tape, as well as a series of measures to support small businesses, including vouchers and extra tax relief.
The regulations to be cut include minimum window size, dimensions of rooms, the strength of front doors and disabled access. The move will save developers £60m a year, he will state.
Cameron is expected to say: “Supporting business is a crucial part of our long term economic plan, creating jobs and security for all. That is why, among so many other things, I have insisted on slashing needless regulation. We will be the first government in modern history to have reduced – rather than increased – domestic business regulation during our time in office.
“This will make it easier for you to grow, to create jobs and to help give this country the long-term security we are working towards. More than 1.3 million new jobs have been created since I came to office – many of them by small businesses. And I know many of you want to grow further – or may be thinking of employing your first person – but have been put off or held back by red tape.
“So we have trawled through thousands of pieces of regulation – from the serious to the ridiculous, and we will be scrapping or amending over 3,000 regulations – saving business well over £850m every single year. That’s half a million pounds which will be saved for businesses every single day of the year.
“We will let you get on with what you do best – enterprising, innovating and – most importantly – creating jobs which give this country the long-term security we need.”
Mike Cherry, the FSB's policy chairman, said: “The government must focus on how they can support these businesses in job creation and growth while the UK's large businesses need to play their part, too, in supporting ambitious small businesses, for example, through paying their smaller suppliers promptly.”
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