Groups urge government to cut red tape

Related tags Red tape Public relations Labour party

Both the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Institute of Directors (IOD) are calling on the government to reduce the impact of red tape on...

Both the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Institute of Directors (IOD) are calling on the government to reduce the impact of red tape on small companies.

Issues such as high taxes, insurance premiums and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) were highlighted to MPs at the Labour Party Conference this week.

The FSB has demanded the government considers a tax break for small businesses, including pubs, which need to change their premises to meet the requirements of the DDA.

From October 2004, the DDA will require pubs and other businesses to have taken all reasonable steps to remove any physical barriers to disabled customers.

David Bishop, spokesman for the FSB, said: "Red tape is still the main concern for small businesses and we are pushing the government to combat the burden of regulation.

"There is going to have to be a hefty investment by small businesses to ensure that premises comply with the DDA.

"We are calling for a tax break to help pubs afford to upgrade their premises."

The IOD has also called on the government to end the burden on enterprising businesses and to bring in more business-friendly policies.

"The ever-increasing tax and red tape burdens on business must be reversed if the UK is to compete internationally," a spokesperson from the IOD said.

The calls are good news for licensees. A poll on thePublican.com earlier this year showed that more than 80 per cent of licensees have seen a dramatic increase in red tape.

According to the industry's Red Tape Group the licensed trade has faced a whopping 153 new pieces of legislation since New Labour came into power in 1997.

Kate Nicholls, spokeswoman for the Red Tape Group, said: "We want to make this session of Parliament a time when we see an end to unnecessary red tape."

The group is to meet up with the minister responsible for better regulation at the beginning of November to highlight the worst legislation for the trade.

The Red Tape campaign, which has the support of The Publican, has launched a petition to get licensees' views. To sign up to the petition click here