The Better Regulation Task Force has called on the government to slash red tape for Britain's businesses.

In his Budget this week, the chancellor said he would back plans to cut bureaucracy.

Party Response: Conservative Party

John Redwood, shadow secretary of state for deregulations said: "I am delighted the government sinner now wants to repent of regulating too much.

"I am amused that they say they want to copy our idea of reducing the number and costs of regulations after eight years, 23,322 new regulations and a total bill of £40 billion extra cost on business so far.

"Unfortunately, it's all talk... Several months have passed since Tony Blair promised one in one out for new rules - meanwhile all Labour has done is heap more regulations on top of their mighty pile."

Stakeholder Response: Federation of Small Business

John Walker, FSB national policy chairman, said: "Since 2000 the government has passed more than 40 new laws that give inspectors the right to enter business premises, take samples and seize evidence from businesses.

"In 1999 independently commissioned research for the FSB revealed that over 300 different types of inspectors had a right of access to business premises.

"But since then a host of new powers of inspection have been introduced in agriculture, policing and security, employment and trade, environmental protection, education and social services, health and safety and hygiene, utilities and taxation.

"Every single inspection interrupts day-to-day business. Hardworking small business owners must be able to concentrate on what they are good at – job creation and wealth generation.

"The Hampton review is absolutely correct to criticise onerous enforcement regimes and I welcome its recommendations. 

"It will be even more important to ensure that this welcome reduction in the number of inspection bodies is matched with a pro-rata reduction in the actual number of inspections.

"A radical overhaul of the inspection regimes is required to engender respect for business regulations.

"Ideally we would like to see an all purpose inspector.

"However governments have been reluctant to pursue this idea telling us that it would not be possible for one inspector to know the full range of laws, but this knowledge is expected of our members on a daily basis."