The Government has launched a website that offers the public, businesses and community organisations the chance to have their say on regulations that affect their lives.
Called the Red Tape challenge website, the new online space is part of the Government’s programme for growth, which aims to rip up some of the ‘unnecessary’ 21,000 rules and regulations that could impede this agenda.
Every few weeks, the Red Tape challenge campaign will focus on a specific set of regulations relevant to a particular sector. The first five are:
Throughout the process, sets of regulations organised around themes – including health and safety, and the environment – will be open for anyone to comment on. Once a theme has closed to the public, the prime minister has said in a letter to all ministers that they will have three months to explain why a regulation that anyone has put forward for removal is still required, or it will be scrapped. A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed, however, that in some cases, further formal consultation would be required before a regulation is abolished.
Announcing the site’s launch last week, David Cameron said he wanted the coalition to be the first government in modern history to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation, rather than increasing it.
He said: “Our starting point is that a regulation should go, or its aim be achieved in a different, non-government way, unless there is a clear and good justification for government being involved. Be in no doubt: all those unnecessary rules that place ridiculous burdens on our businesses and on society – they must go, once and for all.”
The Red Tape challenge website features 131 regulations that relate to health and safety, which can be found on the dedicated site page: www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/health-and-safety
For ease of commenting, the Government has broken these regulations into the following five areas: major-hazard industries; higher-risk workplaces; dealing with hazardous chemicals and materials; general health and safety in the workplace; and fire safety.
Explaining how the campaign is different to other government deregulation drives, Business secretary Vince Cable said: “The onus is now on my fellow ministers and I to justify a regulation, rather than on you telling us to do something about it.”
Addressing stakeholders in retail – the first sector open for comments – he added: “I urge you to visit the website and take a few minutes to tell us the regulations you deal with on a daily basis. This is your chance to make sure that consumers are properly protected from unscrupulous traders, or give us the evidence we need to remove the unnecessary bureaucracy that stops your business from growing.”
For each sector theme, there will also be an experienced ‘sector champion’, who will provide expert knowledge on the issues faced by those on the shop floor. The champion will act as an intermediary between the sector and Government, and help direct the online debates and discussions.
The Red Tape challenge site is at www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
This is just a disgrace. This is now allowing employers to take even more risks and not comply with regulations,. this is just asking for trouble and an increase in injuries/incidents in the workplace. The regulations have been there for a good a reason, why is the government trying to take it away? Disgraceful.