Chancellor promises to cut red tape and boost growth

The Chancellor, John Healey, has given a number of speeches explaining how he intends to boost growth, reduce red tape and maintain fiscal responsibility.

Speaking at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, the Chancellor promised changes to the judicial review process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, arguing that the current system of continued delays added unreasonable costs and destroyed growth.

“I will take an axe to the thicket of consultation, litigation and administration that has a stranglehold too often on private investment,” he said.

The government pointed to the delays in Sizewell C and that while the East West Rail project began in 2019, it hasn’t gone any further.

Most absurd of all was that despite 99% of respondents to a Call for Evidence supporting microchipping cats in the same way as dogs in 2019, it took nearly five years due to further consultations and addressing minority objections.

He criticised excessive risk aversion and said it stifled business. He also set a goal to double the number of UK unicorn companies, those valued at over £1 billion. 

The key measures he announced to prevent delays from holding back growth and investment include:

• Parliament will be able to designate and approve the country’s most important infrastructure projects, giving them significantly enhanced protection from legal challenge. This expands plans first proposed for critical energy infrastructure 
• The government also plans to introduce a fixed Challenge Window, which will ensure points of legal challenge are identified and addressed earlier, helping prevent delays after consent has already been granted.
• Departments will be expected to reduce unnecessary consultations. Ministers should focus on project delivery, using consultations only when there is a clear reason to do so. 
• The Attorney General will also publish updated guidance making clear that legal risk should inform ministers’ decisions, not dictate them.