12-07-2007
Lambert: Businesses will welcome Brown's changes
Business will welcome some the changes set out today in Gordon Brown's Energy Bill, according to Confederation of British Industry director-general Richard Lambert.
"There are plenty of individual elements to this legislative programme that business will welcome, though there are areas of concern too," Mr Lambert said.
The highlight, he said, was a planning bill that will implement the Barker recommendations, since this will contend with the frustrations firms have faced over the years.
However he added that the governments "commitment to business-friendly policies" was "yet to be tested under fire".
Mr Lambert also raised concerns regarding Mr Brown's education and training bill.
"With the UK having one of the highest proportions of young people not in education, employment and training, employers accept the need to raise the participation age," he conceded.
"But … without employers' buy-in this measure could lead to even fewer young people engaged in work and learning," he added.
Gordon Brown has been in office as prime minister for just over two weeks.