Consultation on single start date for regs

The Small Business Service (SBS), an agency of the DTI, has launched a consultation into the feasibility of common commencement dates (i.e. a single date/s) for the introduction of new national and sectoral regulations that impact on business.

The consultation was a central commitment of this year's Budget and proposals would build upon the existing arrangement for domestic employment law, which is now implemented twice a year, on 6 April and 1 October.

The consultation is intended to ensure that changes to policy are made 'in a coordinated fashion and to provide businesses with greater clarity and awareness about when changes will be made' and it is claimed this would assist firms of all sizes to plan for new measures and help implement them effectively.

Other key questions asked by the Government in the consultation document include:

• What areas of law would firms like to see covered by common commencement dates?
  
• Should the proposals also apply to areas of the tax system?
  
• Are there times of the year we should avoid?
  
• Should we consider common commencement dates for European legislation?

The consultation, which is available on the SBS website, seeks the views of all businesses, business organisations, trade associations, advisers and other interested bodies.

The consultation runs until 3 September 2004.

Editor's note: You can make your views known directly or if you wish to submit comments here, I will summarise the overall comments and submit them to the consultation.