One-in one-out system for red tape confirmed

The Government has confirmed plans to introduce a one-in, one-out system for regulations that impose costs on businesses. The business secretary, Vince Cable, has announced a package of measures as part of the change.

From 1 September when ministers seek to introduce new regulations which impose costs on business or the third sector, they will have to identify current regulations with an equivalent value that can be removed. The new rule has been designed to apply initially to domestic legislation affecting businesses and the third sector, with Ministers intending to expand the system in due course.

The Government says ministers will also be taking a rigorous approach to tackling EU regulations and gold plating. The government has said it will engage earlier in the Brussels policy process; take strong cross Government negotiating lines; and work to end socalled ‘gold-plating’ of EU regulations so that when European rules are transposed into UK law it is done without putting British business at a com