The Prime Minister’s pledge to cut red tape to help small businesses is welcome news but more needs to be done by the Government, leading trade associations have said.
Cameron told the Federation of Small Businesses conference the Government is planning to scrap or change more than 3,000 regulations.
Brigid Simmonds, British Beer and Pub Association chief executive, said: “We very much welcome this commitment, and this Government has certainly moved deregulation up the agenda. Although the Government’s plans for a pub regulator with a statutory code don’t chime in with this agenda, at all.
“The Government could also remove the need to advertise in newspapers on all new and all amendments to a premises licence. An annual date for the renewal of licensing fees would also help. Compulsory reviews of council licensing policies every five years are also a big cost burden. All these regulations place real burdens on our sector.
“We’d also like to see the implementation of the Tourism Task Force recommendations, as this would help to boost employment in this sector.
“So, overall there is progress, but certainly more to do.”
Kate Nicholls, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers strategic affairs director, said: “While any reduction in the cost of doing business is welcome – and these changes will help to realise our ambition of free, fair and flexible markets – further action is needed to ensure that licensed hospitality businesses can concentrate on what they do best: generating jobs and growth for their local communities.”
The changes are a result of the ongoing Hospitality Red Tape Challenge, launched by the Prime Minister in April 2011, which consulted widely with businesses and consumers to identify regulatory requirements which were stifling growth.
For the first time, employers will be able to receive funding for apprenticeships direct from
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs through tax deductions.
Further measures announced in the bill include slight alterations to the licensing regime. The requirements to renew personal licences and to notify police of the loss of a premises licence before applying to the local authority for a replacement will both be removed, and the number of Temporary Event Notices that a premises can issue in a year will be increased to 15 from the current maximum of 12.
Also commenting on the Prime Minister David Cameron’s comments today in which he pledged to further cut red tape affecting small businesses, Alexander Jackman, head of policy at the Forum of Private Business, said: “The Government has done a solid job in tackling the overall number of regulations out there and we congratulate ministers on that. What it needs to do now is commit to avoid changing the existing rules as often, to reduce the cost of compliance.”
