The Confederation of British Industry has welcomed the latest package of regulatory reform measures announced by the Government.

Commenting on the announcement, the CBI's deputy director-general, John Cridland said: "This is a positive start from the new Department for Business that gives fresh energy to the regulatory reform agenda.

"Critically, the proposals include practical measures that should deliver time and cost savings on the ground and reward the vast majority of well-managed, compliant businesses. There is a healthy mix of carrot and stick to ensure regulators keep to their side of the deregulatory bargain.

"It is only right that government is bound by law to its own guidance, which states that business gets 12 weeks to implement regulations, once parliament has approved them. It simply isn't good enough when, as with last year's introduction of new age and pension laws, employers are given just three weeks to implement complex regulation.

Commenting on an interim report by the Better Regulation Executive (BRE) and the National Consumer Council on consumer information, Cridland said: "It is not good for business or consumers to have unnecessarily complex consumer legislation. Both parties want to promote confidence in goods and services sold and ensure proper routes to redress when things go wrong. That should be achievable without a host of rules and regulations."