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Cameron wages war on time-wasting

The Prime Minister likened the UK’s place in the current economic situation as akin to being at war, as he delivered his speech to the CBI Annual Conference.

Mr Cameron said we need to “forget about crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ and we need to throw everything we’ve got at winning this global race.”

He argued that too many processes in Government were there to “clog up” the growth potential of the country, and slowed response to global challenges.

The delays, Mr Cameron said, were being caused by impact assessments, judicial reviews and consultation periods.

He added: “I am determined to change this. Here’s how: Cutting back on judicial reviews. Reducing government consultations. Streamlining European legislation. Stopping the gold-plating of legislation at home. And quite simply: getting our roads and railways built more quickly.”

On judicial reviews, the PM said many are completely pointless and the price of submitting a review application should rise, in conjunction with a decrease in the number of opportunities to appeal a decision.

“Consultations, impact assessments, audits, reviews, stakeholder management, securing professional buy-in, complying with EU procurement rules, assessing sector feedback - this is not how we became one of the most powerful, prosperous nations on earth,” he added.

Mr Cameron also attacked what he saw as the “dumbing down” of education, and identified three main problems in education: failing schools; coasting schools; and the failure to provide technical and vocational education.

Director-general of the CBI, John Cridland responded: ’‘The Prime Minister gave new impetus to two key drivers of growth: exports & infrastructure. Business will be encouraged by a clear statement that the Prime Minister is putting government’s shoulder to the wheel to get these initiatives speeded up.

’‘Difficult times demand difficult approaches - we welcome government’s renewed push to get things done.’’

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .