Deregulation Bill (HL Bill 33 of 2014–15)

The Deregulation Bill is a wide-ranging bill that is intended to remove or reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, civil society, individuals, public sector bodies and the taxpayer across a number of policy areas including: general and specific areas of business, companies and insolvency, the use of land, housing, transport, communications, the environment, education and training, entertainment, public authorities and the administration of justice. The Bill would require non-economic regulators to have regard to the desirability of promoting economic growth. The Bill would also repeal legislation that the Government regards as “no longer of practical use”.

This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on 7 July 2014. It gives an overview of the Bill’s provisions and focuses particularly on report stage in the House of Commons. Two House of Commons Library Research Papers, Deregulation Bill, RP 14/06, and Deregulation Bill: Committee Stage Report, RP 14/28, provide further background to the Bill’s provisions and proceedings at second reading and committee stage.