The following has been supplied by the TUC:
Government crowing about its ongoing erosion of safety and other laws protecting workers has fuelled industry calls for the process to be accelerated. Introducing the latest Statement of New Regulation, business minister Michael Fallon said: 'We remain on course to achieve our radical ambition of reducing the cost of regulation over the course of this parliament. This Statement details important measures that will ease unnecessary demands on small firms, alongside essential reforms that will make our economy fairer.' The statement lists 'progress' including changes to employment tribunals that will make it extremely costly to challenge employer health and safety abuses. Also included in the statement is the revision of the workplace injury and disease reporting regulations that will dramatically reduce official intelligence on the harm caused by work. The end of strict liability compensation, which will mean so employers in criminal breach of safety law can't be sued for damages, also features in the latest statement. The industry lobby, however, is still not satisfied. Alexander Ehmann, head of regulatory affairs at the Institute of Directors, said: 'We do not underestimate how hard it is to keep the burden of regulation under control. The prime minister aims to lead the first government in modern history to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation. This statement is a reminder that there is still much work to be done to achieve that goal.' Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: 'Many of the measures announced, including changes to health and safety and employment legislation, respond directly to longstanding business concerns, and will boost confidence.' He added: 'Ministers must widen the scope of their deregulatory charge still further by stemming the flow of regulation from Brussels and from some Whitehall departments here at home.' However, unions have refuted claims that employment and safety regulation are unnecessary red tape placing a burden on business. They point to evidence that the better regulated economies can deliver both better safety and better economic performance.
