Common commencement dates to save £628m

08/04/2008

Having two common commencement dates for changes to legislation will save businesses £628m per year, the government has claimed.

The 6 April and 1 October are the two dates key government departments will introduce new business regulations, as part of the government’s plans to reduce administrative burden on companies.

Business and Competitiveness Minister Shriti Vadera the government had been working to ensure important laws came into force at the same time, and introducing two new legislation dates per year would help companies plan ahead.

She said: “Certain regulation is necessary to provide vital protections and benefits for people across the UK. It also protects businesses, ensuring a level playing field, promoting competition and allowing markets to operate effectively.

“However, we do understand that regulation is a concern for business. This is why we are driving through one of the most ambitious programmes to ease the burden of regulation on business launched by any government.”

However, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said the government was failing to meet these commitments for common commencement dates.

The FSB cited the new London Low Emission Zone and changes to the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act when employing foreign workers as two examples of legislation introduced outside the common commencement dates.