Government ‘cutting the red tape’ for waste and energy

Energy, waste, mining, agriculture, and the care sector will be targeted for savings as part of the Government’s  ‘Cutting the Red Tape’ programme, announced Javid.

The Government reviews will look to end unnecessary regulation and its poor implementation during the Parliament, starting with an appeal to businesses to submit opinions and evidence.

Brakes off

“I am determined to take the brakes off British businesses and set them free from heavy-handed regulators,” said Javid. “The Government’s pledge to cut £10bn in red tape over the course of this parliament will help create more jobs for working people, boost productivity and keep our economy growing.”

The Government is seeking industry views and evidence which it says will help build better regulation.

Javid added: “For the first time, these reviews will look not only at the rules themselves but the way they are enforced. We want firms to tell us where red tape is holding them back and help us make Britain the best place in Europe to start and grow a business.”

According to the proposals, mining and mineral extraction companies have been hampered by unnecessarily strict planning and environmental controls which could be eased to stop delays.

The waste sector has also told the government regulatory bodies should be responding better to innovation, to allow disposal companies to make best use of recycling and re-use opportunities, rather than sending waste to landfill.

Industry voice

Resource Minister Rory Stewart said the review would cut needless bureaucracy and remove burdens on the waste sector: “We have already delivered savings of just under £1m a year by removing requirements for businesses to create site waste management plans and I hope this review will identify more barriers we can remove to open up the industry to further growth and innovation.”

Stewart added: “This review is about giving the people who work in the waste industry a voice, giving them an opportunity to have a say on regulations that affect them, and creating an efficient and productive waste industry.”

The Government has previously sought to streamline testing at shale gas sites through an open consultation held by the Environment Agency. The recent Task Force on Shale report called for drilling water monitoring boreholes to be allowed to go ahead without full planning permission.

The Treasury’s productivity plan announced last week also sought to ease environmental regulation and energy efficiency standards on new house building.

Matt Field