Better Regulation
In 2005 67 per cent of respondents to the FSB's report 'Inspector at the Door' claimed that there were moderately serious to serious costs involved in form-filling and providing information to regulators. This is clearly a serious issue for our members and we will continue to work closely with Government to lessen the impact regulation has on SMEs. Clive Davenport, Better Regulation Chairman
The Government has committed to a better regulation agenda which seeks to lessen the regulatory burden that some legislation can place on businesses, especially SMEs. The Better Regulation Executive has been tasked by the Prime Minister to minimise bureaucracy for businesses. The aims of the BRE are:
- to work with departments to improve the design of new regulations and how they are communicated;
- to work with departments and regulators to simplify and modernise existing regulations; and
- to work with regulators (including local authorities) and departments to change attitudes and approaches to regulation to become more risk-based.
Current issues in Better Regulation
>Reduce your regulatory burden
The FSB is calling on small businesses to let us know what your regulatory bugbears are so that we can inform the Government as to what they need to change to make the administrative life of a small firm easier.
> Regulatory Reform - a route to economic recovery
The FSB has outlined proposals for creating and saving more than 300,000 jobs, by calling for a moratorium on all new business regulations and a rapid simplification of confusing bureaucracy.
In a new policy paper entitled Regulatory Reform – a route to economic recovery, the FSB is proposing an overhaul of the UK's regulatory structures, calling for:
- A moratorium on business regulation: to boost the chances of job creation, the Government must halt all new regulation during the recession and for the first 18 months after recovery; and
- Accelerated simplification of current laws: employers are currently confused and put off by maternity and paternity law; discrimination law; and health and safety legislation. All of these must be immediately simplified.
>Regulatory Reform Select Committee
The FSB submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee for Regulatory reform and gave oral evidence to the committee on the April 28 2009 as part of its inquiry into 'Themes and Trends in Regulatory Reform.' The FSB remains concerned that some regulations still have a negative affect on SMEs and that more can be done to improve this situation. Yet the FSB is also clear that what is needed is a clear balance as it recognises that some regulations are important for protecting the public and employees as well as making good business sense.
>Common Commencement Dates
The FSB had campaigned for a suspension of some regulations which negatively affect SMEs which were to be brought in on the Common Commencement Date of the April 6. The Government rejected these calls and the full list of regulations that were brought in on this date can be found on the BusinessLink website.
>The Burden of Compulsory Surveys
The FSB is working closely with the ONS and other Government departments that put a burden on our members through compulsory surveys.The FSB is looking at ways that the impact may be decreased and is keen to hear from members about their experiences.
>Corporate Telephone Preference Service
The Corporate Telephone Preference Service was introduced in 2005. The FSB is currently looking at the way that this service has impacted on the ability of its members to market themselves.
Stakeholders
>Better Regulation Executive
The better regulation executive website provides up to date information on the work that is going on as part of the better regulation agenda as well as providing an opportunity for you to make suggestins on changes that need to be made.
>BERR
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is responsible for the Better Regulation agenda, information on this wok can also be found here.
>Local Better Regulation Office
The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) has been set up help councils improve their trading standards, environmental health, licensing and fire safety services – taken together, the biggest regulatory service working with businesses in the United Kingdom.