Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew George Excerpts
Thursday 20th December 2012

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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Yes. This Government intend to be the first ever to reduce the overall burden of regulation during their time in office. If my hon. Friend looks at the fifth statement of new regulation, he will see that—significantly—more regulations will be removed over the next six months from January than will be added. As I said, the overall cost reduction to business is nearly £1 billion.

Andrew George Portrait Andrew George (St Ives) (LD)
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I welcome that approach, but are the Government also estimating the cost of a lack of regulation such as, for example, the practice of upward-only rent reviews for high street shops, irrespective of falling turnovers? Such rent reviews are heaping further costs on businesses and making them less viable.

Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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There is downward as well as upward movement in that sector, but I will certainly refer the hon. Gentleman’s comments to the Minister for Housing.