Written question asked by Andrew Selous (Conservative) on Monday, 2 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 July 2007. It was answered by Pat McFadden (Labour) on Thursday, 5 July 2007 on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Productivity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to improve UK productivity over the next 12 months.

Answer: Over the past decade the Government have placed the objective of improving the UK’s productivity performance at the heart of economic strategy and the policy agenda, which has successfully narrowed the productivity gap with our major industrial competitors.Going forward, a wide programme of reforms has been designed under the Government’s framework of five-drivers of productivity in order to make further progress. My Department contributes to policies under all five drivers of productivity, but has particular responsibility for taking forward reforms under the enterprise and competition drivers. For example, under the enterprise driver, ongoing work on the Better Regulation Agenda and the Simplification programme, which my Department is leading, will help to create a better framework within which business can operate. Implementing the provisions of the Companies Act which received Royal Assent last year will also contribute to reducing the administrative burdens on business, and at the same time, increase transparency and improve confidence of investors in the UK economy.We will work closely with other Departments to take forward the productivity agenda.

Secondary information