asked the Minister for the Marine if he is conducting an audit of paperwork requirements imposed by his Department, or by agencies under his aegis, on business; if so, when the audit commenced; the named officer, if any, in charge of the audit; if any report thereon has yet been presented to the Minister for Industry and Commerce; if so, the contents thereof; if any practices or regulations have yet been altered as a result of the audit; if so, the details thereof; if he has prepared any report on the compliance costs to industry of legislation being prepared by his Department; the way in which these reports compare in content, scope or purpose with reports on this subject already required by decisions of the previous Government; and if he will outline the subjects being covered by the audit now being conducted in his Department.
Written Answers. - Paperwork Requirements Imposed on Business.
14.
I have initiated a programme to review the statutory and information requirements of my Department and the bodies under their aegis with a view to the easing of unnecessary legislation and administrative burdens on business and industry. The programme commenced on 13 May 1988 and is being co-ordinated by a senior official of my Department. No report has yet been presented to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and thus no practices or regulations have yet been altered. The report will include compliance costs assessments of new or amended legislation proposals which affect industry.