‘Red-tape challenge’ to liberate retailers from archaic regulations

Business secretary Vince Cable announces first phase of bureaucracy tidy-up aimed at helping high street stores Retailers will no longer have to hand over addresses of TV buyers to the television licensing authorities as part of a red-tape overhaul. Nearly two-thirds of regulations specifically aimed at shop owners will be scrapped or reformed, as part of a bureaucratic tidying-up exercise by ministers. The business secretary, Vince Cable, announced the first phase of the government’s “Red Tape Challenge” and expressed hopes that lowering the age at which one can buy Christmas crackers, among other regulatory tweaks, would help restore confidence on the high street. “There is a very serious confidence problem on the high street. Making the business environment more friendly will hopefully make a difference,” said Cable. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) said that 160 out of 257 regulations for retailers would disappear or be changed, including an amendment to the Wireless Telegraphy Act that obliges retailers to notify TV Licensing of any sales or rentals of television sets – the bane of generations of students. However, the changes must go to a public consultation first. Asda was among the retailers which called for the rule to be scrapped, because it forces staff to concentrate on form-filling rather than the shop floor. The BBC, which relies on the licence fee for most of its income, has not not objected. Asked to nominate the worst regulations he had come across, Cable said rules on sales of poisons, including fly spray and toilet cleaner, were subject to an overly strict regime. “All sales of acids are based on the impression that we are all Dr Crippens wanting to dispose of bodies,” said Cable. Cable’s department has pledged to look at simplifying guidelines for selling poisons. Shopkeepers agitating to mount a Valentine’s Day window display featuring lingerie and liqueur chocolates will no longer require an alcohol licence to do so under the proposals. Marks & Spencer complained that restrictions on liqueur chocolate sales had stymied a romantic display idea at one of its stores, helping persuade BIS officials that retailers should not have to apply for an alcohol licence before stocking cognac-infused truffles. The move will require a consultation because it is covered by the 2003 Alcohol Licensing Act, but ministers are confident it will be pushed through. Mark Prisk, the business minister, said: “The idea that we have to protect younger people from liqueur chocolates in this country is one that has to be got rid of.” Age restrictions also feature in the BIS proposals and include a planned reduction in the minimum age for acquiring Christmas crackers. The current limit of 16 years of age will be reduced to the European Union limit of 12. That proposal will also have to go to public consultation. The department is also looking at standard ID requirements for purchasing alcohol and cigarettes, such as in Scotland where proof of age has to come from either a passport, a driver’s licence or a government-approved proof-of-age card. Many regulations will be swept away in the repeals bill, which is due to enter parliament early next year. Those include the Trading with the Enemy Act, which contains provisions that bar UK companies from trading with states that the country is at war with. Nearly 100 amendments to the act that are still on the statute books that permit UK businesses to trade with countries that no longer exist, such as Yugoslavia, Siam and French Indo-China. Cable said the Red Tape Challenge would be extended to 25 more themes and sectors, including employment law, by next summer. Retail industry Vince Cable Asda Marks & Spencer Dan Milmo guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 27, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.