Regulation should not hinder businesses, says minister

Date: 19th March 2010

The work of the UK's regulatory bodies should not have a negative effect on the country's businesses.

This is the view of Ian Lucas, minister for businesses and better regulation, who said the organisations should strive to strike a balance when upholding business rights.

Mr Lucas commented: "We need to ensure that regulation does not hinder business growth or economic prosperity, while also upholding the rights and protections of business and the public.

"Striking the right balance will be essential in a regulatory framework fit for the 21st century which creates the right conditions for UK businesses to succeed and grow."

The comments follow the publication of the final five Hampton Implementation Review reports.

Published by the Better Regulation Executive, the reports examined the Charity Commission, the Marine and Fisheries Agency, the Driving Standards Agency, the Football Licensing Authority and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Over the last four years, the Hampton Reviews have examined how 36 national regulators engage with millions of businesses in the UK.