Deregulation Bill: Committee Stage Report

This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Deregulation Bill. The Bill proposes a range of measures in line with the Government’s aim to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses and public authorities. Its scope includes health and safety, employment law, company and insolvency law, the use of land, housing, transport, communications, the environment, Child Trust Funds, entertainment, criminal justice and economic growth.

A separate Library Research Paper (RP14/16) was prepared for the Bill’s Second Reading debate in the Commons. The Bill’s Report Stage will take place on 14 May 2014. A carry over motion was agreed on 24 February 2014 to allow the Bill to be re-introduced if its stages were not complete by the end of the session.

A number of new clauses were introduced during the Bill’s Committee Stage. These concerned exemptions for turban-wearing Sikhs on the wearing of safety helmets in workplaces; the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles; disputes regarding agricultural holdings; housing standards; and sanctions related to TV licence fee non-payment.