SNIPPING through Government red tape for small business starts in York next week.

Business owners and managers throughout Yorkshire will converge on York's National Railway Museum on Monday to influence Government policy on exactly when official regulations which blight their lives should come into effect.

The questions being asked will include how being bombarded with new legislation at various times throughout the year, often creating uncertainty and anxiety plus an inability to plan from one month to the next, can be avoided

The Small Business Service (SBS), which acts as the "voice" of small business throughout Britain, and has organised the free focus group meeting, will suggest a way through - specific "red tape days" on which pre-announced business legislation can be enacted - but they want visitors' views.

Already, the Government has announced that, as an experiment, all employer legislation coming out of the Department of Trade and Industry will be enacted on just two dates - April 6, when four amendments in employer legislation kick in, and October 1, when nine law changes, including legislation on the minimum wage, will be enacted.

An action plan published by the Government on January 18 suggests a new willingness by the authorities to have "red tape days" in other areas of employment legislation, if that is what Britain's three million small and medium-sized enterprises want.

That is why the SBS's regulatory reform team want to hear the views of Yorkshire firms on the timing and impact of government regulations.

Andy Harrison, assistant director of the SBS's business, environment and regulation directorate, urged small businesses to attend. "Your views will help to shape the consultation paper we draw up in April for the Government and serious negotiations will follow.

"We will be asking how many dates in the year you can handle.

"One date might be too much to deal with for many, but by staggering the new laws we can make the uncertainty go away and it gives you time to put new and effective systems in place; and from the Government's point of view it is bound to mean better compliance.

"It is a real chance to do something about the worst effects of red tape."

Starting time for the focus group is 6pm, but there is an optional free tour of the museum at 4.30pm.

After the meeting, there is a free buffet, starting at 7.30pm

A place can be booked by phoning 0845 4567091, or by emailing

betterregulation.sbs@ictstrategies.com

Updated: 12:50 Thursday, March 04, 2004