The Government are today publishing Simplification Plans for 19 Departments and Government agencies. The Health and Safety Executive published its plan on 3 December, taking the total number of plans published to 20.

The plans set out more than 700 initiatives which, when delivered, will result in reduced administrative burdens and policy costs for the UK economy as a whole.

They show how the Government are delivering the commitment they made 12 months ago to reduce administrative burdens on business and the third sector by 25 per cent. net by 2010, saving the economy £3.5 billion a year. They set out 288 simplification measures that Departments have delivered to date, saving business and the third sector more than £800 million net per year. And they show that work has begun on reducing the bureaucracy faced by frontline public sector workers.

These plans continue the Government’s commitment to transparent reporting of its simplification programme. Departments will continue to update plans annually in order to ensure on-going year-on-year reductions in the burdens they impose.

A report “Delivering simplification plans: A summary” has been deposited in both Houses which summarises this cross-Government effort.