Business News - Less Red Tape

The Small Business Council (SBC) has called on the government to ensure better consultation with small firms.

In the SBC's 2004 report ahead of the Chancellor's own Pre-Budget Report, the SBC also calls for future regulation introduced only as a last resort.
The SBC is looking to protect the UK's four million small businesses which account for 58% of all private sector employment.
It also suggests that civil servants should spend one week a year with a private company.

"Our annual report sets out some fairly radical thinking on how the Government can make life better for millions of small businesses," said SBC chairman William Sargent.
"They are the engine room of the British economy and policymakers across the board must get better at listening to them and addressing their needs.
"We are pleased with the successes the council has had since it was set up in 2000, but the wider small businesses community still has a disproportionately low level of influence over government policy."

The SBC's demands for less red tape include:

Better policymaking - effective consultation with small firms, regulation as a last resort, clear sign-posting and communication of new legislation, recognition that one size doesn't fit all.

Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA) should be re-named Policy Impact Assessments and undergo an overhaul to ensure that they are meaningful.

That the cost of being governed and doing business with Government be reduced each year.

That retained profits should be tax-free to encourage business growth.

That individual regulators simplify, or abolish one or more regulations per year per person.

That business support should be demand-led not supply-led.
24/11/2004