Plug pulled on red tape hotline

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A hotline set up by ministers to help slash red tape is to be scrapped after taking just four calls last year.

The revelation came in response to a parliamentary question put by Tory finance spokesman Derek Brownlee.

Enterprise Minister Nicol Stephen said the Iris initiative, set up to take suggestions from businesses, had "outlived its usefulness".

But Mr Brownlee said ministers placed little importance on reducing burdens and regulations.

In his written answer, Mr Stephen said that no "substantive" calls were received last year by the hotline set up by the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit (Iris).

Accepting the low standards the current executive aims for is not an option Derek BrownleeConservative spokesman

"Since 2004 we have established a different approach towards addressing businesses' concerns involving the industry-led regulatory sub-group," he said.

"The hotline, introduced in 2001 has now outlived its usefulness and can now be retired."

Mr Brownlee said: "This shows what little importance the executive attaches to reducing burdens and regulations."

The South of Scotland MSP said there was a huge amount still to be done in Scotland to reduce the burden of regulations on public services and on business.

"Accepting the low standards the current executive aims for is not an option," he said.

"It is time for a better approach that seriously questions the costs and benefits of every regulation introduced, allowing the public to raise any concerns with the genuine expectation they will be seriously reviewed."