The introduction of new business legislation should be brought to a halt to allow reassessment of the existing burden of red tape, according to The Forum of Private Businesses (FPB).

The FPB’s policy representative, Matt Goodman, says such a halt should last until the General Election, which is expected to take place in May, and allow the launch of the first ‘Comprehensive Regulatory Review’ – in the spirit of the Comprehensive Spending Review – as proposed by the FPB in its submission to the pre-budget report.

Goodman says: “By committing to a moratorium and the first Comprehensive Regulatory Review before the General Election, the government can extend the pre-election period and use that time to make ‘joined-up government’ a reality.”