CUTTING “red tape” needs to be a priority for the coalition Government after it cost businesses in Yorkshire and Humber £690 million in the past year, a leading businessman has said.
The 2010 edition of the British Chambers of Commerce’s Burdens Barometer, compiled by Tim Ambler and Francis Chittenden, from London and Manchester Business Schools, showed the cumulative cost of new regulation since 1998 has risen to £6.39 billion, up from £5.7 billion in 2009.
Gary Williamson, chief executive of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the coalition’s programme for government. “The chamber has campaigned hard on policies to create a better business environment and we are pleased that many of these ideas feature in the coalition’s programme for government.
“Plans to reduce the burden of red tape, review employment law, automate small business rate relief, and improve the competitiveness of the tourism industry are particularly pleasing.”
He said the chamber would be pressing for more detail on the coalition’s proposals around reforming capital gains tax and simplifying reliefs and allowances.
“Changes to these tax regimes have the potential to either help or hurt the UK business environment, so ministers must tread carefully to avoid affecting entrepreneurship and enterprise.”
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