REDUCING regulation on small business was amongst the Government’s legislative agenda set out in the Queen’s Speech today.

The Enterprise Bill includes measures that aim to boost job creation and cut red tape for businesses.

It also includes proposals to create a new Small Business Conciliation Service, to help settle disputes between small and large businesses, particularly with regards to late payment practices.

The Government also aims to improve the business rates system ahead of the 2017 revaluation, which include modernising the appeals system.

The Bill and 25 more were unveiled by the Queen in the House of Lords and included covering an EU referendum by the end of 2017, national insurance contributions, energy and welfare benefits and the right-to-buy for housing association tenants.

Commenting on today’s speech, Stewart Dunn, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Before the election we were calling for practical, pro-enterprise measures from whoever was going to be in power.

“This Queen’s Speech goes some way towards cutting red tape and alleviating late payments issues, both of which are troubling for many businesses.

“It also furthers the pragmatic aim of reforming Britain’s relationship with the EU ahead of a referendum, an approach most of our members welcome.

“We would have liked to see more detail on how the government will improve the system of business rates before the next planned re-evaluation in 2017.

“There will also be some concern over the explicit ruling out of any rises in income tax, VAT or National Insurance before 2020. While in many respects these are good steps for business, the government has left itself little room for manoeuvre if economic conditions prove more challenging than expected.”

Welcoming the series of measures that aim to back businesses, Neal Eames, who is development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The economy is on the right track to create jobs and growth in the UK.

“The Government must maintain its strengthening of the enterprise landscape to support ambitious businesses in order to boost productivity and jobs.

“However, ministers must stick to the path of fiscal discipline and continue to drive down the deficit. “ We want to continue to see a stronger economy while the cost of doing business must be lower and easier.”

Paying attention to the Enterprise Bill, Mr Eames said: “We are pleased the Government is maintaining focus on small businesses.

“The Enterprise Bill is a real opportunity to make progress on small business issues such as cutting burdensome red tape and addressing late payments.

“We look forward to seeing the details of the proposed Small Business Conciliation Service and how it will address issues like late payments.

“Small businesses often have the law on their side, but find accessing the legal system complex, time consuming and expensive.

“A properly constituted conciliation service should help with this and go some way to addressing major problems like the UK’s poor payment culture.”