However, responding to the Government’s consultation, the FPB has argued that there has been no explanation as to why the merger will enable smaller businesses to challenge the new body’s rulings more effectively, as has been claimed. The FPB believes that a change in the machinery of government is required to improve accountability.

"Both of these bodies have conveyed the impression over recent years that they have little understanding of the way businesses have to operate in order to compete effectively," said the FPB’s National Chairman, Len Collinson. "We are happy that this amalgamation offers opportunities for decreasing red tape, however, we are concerned that regulators are not properly scrutinised or supervised to make sure that British industry remains competitive and flexible."

The FPB’s members consistently cite health and safety regulations as one of the most disproportionate areas of red tape that they have to deal with. The FPB’s ‘Cost of Compliance’ research placed health and safety second only to tax issues as the area of red tape considered the most burdensome for small businesses. The research revealed that, on average, members spend 14 hours per month wading through health and safety regulations.

FPB member and furniture specialist Enkev is based in Silloth, Cumbria. Its Managing Director, Phil Allison, believes that the bewildering volume of costly regulations, such as those which accompany health and safety legislation, are unfairly catching businesses out.

"Personally, I think the amount of regulations that small businesses have to adhere to has made it virtually impossible to keep up to date with the many changes that are being made," he said. "Also, more importantly, because of all the regulations, small businesses are going to fall foul of them sooner rather than later."

The FPB has called for it to be a legal requirement that the new Executive specifies the precise terms by which it will delegate powers to inspectors and officials, making sure that they adhere to the Hampton principles, which govern better regulation, and that the regulators’ compliance code is met.

Restricting the involvement of the Secretary State in individual enforcement decisions is a positive step, says the FPB, as are proposals that the new Health & Safety Executive should have a duty to regard better regulation principles when designing health and safety laws. The FPB believes that impact assessments should be made open to public scrutiny via the Better Regulation Executive (BRE) and National Audit Office (NAO). The Health & Safety Executive tends to introduce regulation to cover any perceived risk, even if the cost of compliance vastly outweighs the supposed risk that is prevented.The Forum of Private Business (FPB) was formed in 1977 and fights on behalf of private businesses. The FPB represents approximately 25,000 UK-based businesses, which in turn employ in excess of 600,000 people.

The FPB is active in Brussels and is supported by an all-party group of MEPs.

The FPB also provides a range of business services aimed at increasing member efficiency and profitability.

www.fpb.org