Fresh fears over red tape reforms

Another Commons select committee has said that ministers must make changes to the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill.

A report from the public administration committee said further safeguards are needed to prevent the potential abuse of power.

Cabinet Office minister Jim Murphy has already signalled that, in response to strong parliamentary criticism, the current proposals will be amended.

The regulatory reform committee and the procedure committee have already set out their concerns, while parliament's joint human rights committee will publish another report on Wednesday.

The Bill is intended to give ministers additional powers to cut red tape for business by amending or repealing redundant laws without the need for full parliamentary procedure to be followed.

In Tuesday's report, the MPs said they supported the aims of the Bill, but warned that the powers the government seeks are disproportionate.

There were fears that over the long term it could be too easy for breach undertakings not to abuse the powers.

The report said that "if government wants broad powers, it must accept that some matters should be off­ limits".

At minimum certain statutes or subject matters need to be excluded from the powers in the Bill, said the MPs.

There were also fears over proposals to allow the government new powers to implement Law Commission proposals to change the common law.

"It is parliament's responsibility to make new law, and significant proposals for such law should be made as primary legislation, however eminent and expert the body which recommends them," said the report.

Committee chairman Tony Wright said: "There are welcome signs that the government intends to make real improvements to the Bill.

"I am delighted that the minister appears to have accepted that more safeguards are needed, but my colleagues and I will be scrutinising the government's proposals to ensure those safeguards are adequate."