Chamber calls for regulation freeze

GREATER Manchester Chamber is calling on the government to freeze all “non-essential” upcoming legislation that has no financial benefit for businesses.

It says the move will allow business owners to get on with managing and running their businesses and protecting jobs, in the current difficult climate.

The call came on the same day the government announced it had saved North West businesses an estimated £180m a year in time and money, through cuts in red tape.

The report from The Better Regulation Executive said UK businesses are benefiting from an estimated £1.9bn in annual savings, apparently more than double last year’s figure.

It details the 240 measures government is taking to make regulation simpler for businesses, and says it is on track to cut the administrative cost of regulation by 25% by 2010.

But Greater Manchester Chamber’s Samantha Dunbar, who is policy manager for employment, skills and workplace legislation, said the announcement will raise a few eyebrows among smaller companies, which are still being hampered by “bureaucratic procedures they could do without”.

“Although any cuts in red tape are welcome in this difficult climate, much more needs to be done to ensure that businesses are not burdened with unnecessary legislation.

“There is not a detailed enough picture of whether SMEs are benefitting specifically as a result of government measures to cut red tape,” she said.