In a bid to reduce criticism of the creeping increase in red-tape, the government has introduced this act to make it easier to reform and relax existing regulations. It extends the scope of a previous measure that allows ministers to scrap a host of regulations through a fast-track parliamentary process.

These will focus initially on areas such as fire safety regulations, rules surrounding weights and measures and so forth.It will also permit the reform of complex and arcane licensing laws - allowing restaurants to open later and provide live entertainment and permit pubs to open later on new year's eve from 2001.

In a bid to be seen to be consulting on red tape, ministers will invite the public to notify them of any unnecessary regulations which should either be relaxed or swept away.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) joined other trade groups in welcoming the announcement of the bill, saying that it would "delight small businesses as it would allow real deregulation to take place without taking up primary legislative time".

The government also used the act as a vehicle to push through long-promised measures to help victims of vaccine damage, potentially helping hundreds of people to get enhanced compensation payments. These were previously severely restricted by age limits and a very high test of the level of disability. The act will reduce the disability threshold to 60 per cent and increase the claim cut-off age to 21. Under the scheme, at least 900 children who have already qualified for a payment will receive up to £67,000 extra. Parents' organisations had argued for years that one-off payments of £10,000 to £40,000 did not begin to cover the cost of caring for a severely disabled child. The new measures under the Vaccine Damage Payment scheme are expected to cost £60m. Families who received compensation under the existing scheme, set up in 1979, will be entitled to top-up payments up to £100,000.

House of Lords

First reading: December 7 2000

Second reading: December 21 2000

Committee (1st day): January 23

Committee (2nd day): January 25 2001

Report: February 13 2001

Third reading: February 19 2001

Proceedings after third reading (continuation of debate on amendments not reached): February 26 2001

House of Commons

First reading: February 26 2001

Second reading: March 19 2001

Committee

• 1st sitting: March 27 2001 (am)
• 2nd sitting: March 27 2001 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: March 29 2001 (am)

Remaining stages: April 5 2001

Consideration of Commons amendments: April 9 2001

Royal Assent: April 10 2001