30/09/2011

'Red Tape Cut' To Boost Hospitality Trade

Plans have been revealed to scrap or simplify more than 60 regulations that currently apply to the hospitality, food and drink sector.

Ministers announced proposals to free the public and businesses from a series of "over-burdensome" or unnecessary rules that are holding the industry back.

Tourism Minister John Penrose announced the news this week.

The proposals come from nearly 600 comments from the public and businesses as part of the Government’s rigorous Red Tape Challenge.

They will see significant changes to legislation that will make life easier for businesses and promote personal freedoms.

The plan is to reduce bureaucracy in licensing by making application forms simpler and, following consultation, give local areas more flexibility over late-night refreshment licensing, the process for obtaining a Temporary Event Notice (TENs) and reducing the administrative burdens on businesses with minimal alcohol sales, such as B&Bs.

The Government will support responsible businesses and empower local communities to help prevent and tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder.

They will scrap the regulations covering the location and design of no smoking signs and change regulations to make clear that properties rented out for less than four months in a year do not need Energy Performance Certificates.

Guidance will also make clear that an EPC is not required where a property is used for short term holiday lets as long as certain conditions are met.

It has also launched a major programme of improvement for food regulations that will particularly benefit smaller businesses and new entrants.

Remaining legislation will be consolidated so that most food businesses will only need to look at one regulation.

Tourism Minister John Penrose, who has led the work on this part of the Red Tape Challenge, said: "Rules and regulations grow like bindweed through industry and business, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Hospitality, Food and Drink sectors.

"Wading through bumph, filling in pointless and repetitive forms is a spirit-sapping experience which too often chokes off enterprise and endeavour.

"The Red Tape Challenge has shone a spotlight on all this, and I am delighted with our progress," he said.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: "It’s great news that more than 60 regulations in the hospitality, food and drink sector will be scrapped or simplified. This comes on top of the 160 retail regulations that will be reviewed, amended or abolished. It shows that the Red Tape Challenge is gaining momentum."

(BMcC/GK)

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