The government today introduced a regulatory reform programme it says will take Britain a "crucial step forward" in cutting red tape on businesses.
Ministers delivered the Legislative & Regulatory Reform Bill to Parliament, which if passed will put into place many of the regulatory reforms from Labour's Better Regulation Action Plan launched in May 2005.
Ministers say the Bill would make it easier to simplify or remove unnecessary and convoluted regulations and help foster a risk-based approach to policy.
It would also widen the government's law reform power beyond restrictions set in the Regulatory Reform Act 2001.
"The 2001 Regulatory Reform Act delivered significant benefits to [business, the public and voluntary sectors], but does not go far enough to meet the demands of the government's radical new agenda for regulatory reform," said Cabinet Office minister Jim Murphy.
"[The Bill] marks a crucial step toward a Britain free from unnecessary red tape."
Murphy added that the bill would also enable the mergers of those regulators not currently covered by separate legislation.
Business pressure groups and other stakeholders largely praised the proposals.
"Employers warmly welcome this Bill which could be a major step forward in the drive to reduce the burden of regulation on business," said David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
"Employers will now be looking for the government to fully implement its programme and achieve a NET reduction in the costs of complying with regulation."
The Bill is part of the government's greater push to improve the UK's status as one of the world's most attractive places to do business.
Last year, the UK was downgraded from seventh to ninth in a prominent ranking of the world's top countries for starting and running a business. Researchers pointed to a complicated tax code and regulatory system for the lower score.
