Red tape plea goes unheard
A great opportunity to help slash red tape is being ignored by licensees.
Earlier this month shadow trade secretary Tim Yeo called on licensees to share their red tape problems but, as yet, he hasn't received a single response.
Mr Yeo set up a campaign to combat the suffocating amounts of unnecessary regulation small businesses, including pubs, have to face and licensees were asked to send in specific examples of needless regulations to a panel of experts in order to slash red tape.
Chris Campbell, secretary to the better regulation advisers, said: "Unfortunately we haven't heard from any licensees on this issue. It's the perennial problem: people are very good at grumbling but very poor at pointing out what needs to be changed.
"Unless we get solid responses about specific legislation that is stifling business, rather than just general rants or nothing at all, the panel will just be sitting there twiddling its thumbs."
Kate Nicholls, spokesperson for the industry's Red Tape Group, urged licensees to make their views known.
But she said that many had precious little time to contact politicians because of the increasing pressures put on them by extra legislation.
She reassured licensees that their voices would be heard by the better regulation panel.
"We will be highlighting the main areas of concern for the industry very soon. Employment law is the main headache at the moment and an extra tranche of regulations, including new maternity and paternity rights, are about to be brought in next month."
The group is also identifying the top three issues that really pinch the pub trade and will send the findings to politicians in April.
Mr Yeo's campaign has the support of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries' chairman David Thompson, who joined the panel to fight unnecessary rules that swamp licensees in bureaucracy.
More business leaders are being invited to join the campaign to reduce red tape.
The next issue to be discussed will be the Licensing Bill, with particular focus on the issues surrounding entertainment.
Last year the government admitted that since Labour came into power unnecessary red tape had been costing small businesses an additional £5bn a year. The British Chamber of Commerce said last month the cost of legislation on businesses since 1997 is around £21bn.
Voice your concerns to Tim Yeo, 1 Parliament Street, London, SW1 or email campbellc@parliament.uk
Related articles:
High profile campaign to slash red tape (6 February 2003)
