Reducing regulation on the way? 

In his first major speech as Chancellor, John Healey acknowledged the pressures businesses face from energy costs, regulation, planning delays and labour costs. He indicated that cutting red tape would be on the agenda, saying:

"I will take an axe to the thicket of consultation, litigation and administration that has a stranglehold too often on private investment. So, I confirm today my commitment to reducing the burden of business regulation by 25% by the end of this Parliament."

The commitment is significant, but of course we’ll be watching closely to see which regulations are actually targeted for reform.