News story

Business Secretary sets out plans for Primary Authority

Sajid Javid has used his first speech to outline plans to simplify and extend Primary Authority.

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

Sajid Javid has used his first speech as Business Secretary to outline plans to simplify and extend Primary Authority, as part of a wider Enterprise Bill.

The Secretary of State said on Tuesday, 19th May: “We’re going to simplify Primary Authority…making it far easier for small businesses to access the scheme… And we’re going to extend its reach.”

A set of new measures to support entrepreneurs and job creation include making it easier for thousands more businesses – many of them small – to build better relationships with regulators and have confidence in getting it right first time.

Primary Authority allows a business to get advice on regulation from a single local council or fire service and this advice must then be followed by all other local authorities.

The proposed changes are in response to the work that BRDO has been doing to review Primary Authority. We are keen to hear more from businesses and regulatory stakeholders in the coming weeks and months to help us identify and remove burdens.

As part of its long-term economic plan, the Government has said it will cut red tape for business by at least £10 billion over the next 5 years.

Enterprise Bill: press notice

Secretary of State speech 19 May: transcript

Secretary of State speech 19 May: video

Watch from 9.26 to hear about Primary Authority’s role in backing business.

Updates to this page

Published 20 May 2015