Cutting business regulation

Gordon Brown has pledged to push ahead with a drive to ease the burden of regulation on Britain's businesses.

 

Responding to the announcement, businesses have welcomed the reforms in principle, but warned that they must be properly implemented.

 

Ministers are promising a new law in this parliamentary session to streamline 29 regulators into just seven bodies.

 

A second bill next session will be used to remove further redundant regulations.

 

Opposition Response: The Conservatives

 

Responding to the government's announcement today that it intends to reduce business regulation, shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "Every year Gordon Brown promises to cut red tape on business and every year he increases it. British businesses saddled with £40bn of extra regulation under Labour will be very sceptical at his claim that he's turned over a new leaf.